Interpenetrating Polymer Networks as Innovative Drug Delivery Systems

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Alka Lohani

2014-01-01

Full Text Available Polymers have always been valuable excipients in conventional dosage forms, also have shown excellent performance into the parenteral arena, and are now capable of offering advanced and sophisticated functions such as controlled drug release and drug targeting. Advances in polymer science have led to the development of several novel drug delivery systems. Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs have shown superior performances over the conventional individual polymers and, consequently, the ranges of applications have grown rapidly for such class of materials. The advanced properties of IPNs like swelling capacity, stability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity and biodegradability have attracted considerable attention in pharmaceutical field especially in delivering bioactive molecules to the target site. In the past few years various research reports on the IPN based delivery systems showed that these carriers have emerged as a novel carrier in controlled drug delivery. The present review encompasses IPNs, their types, method of synthesis, factors which affects the morphology of IPNs, extensively studied IPN based drug delivery systems, and some natural polymers widely used for IPNs.

Polycaprolactone diacrylate crosslinked biodegradable semi-interpenetrating networks of polyacrylamide and gelatin for controlled drug delivery

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jaiswal, Maneesh; Koul, Veena; Dinda, Amit K; Gupta, Asheesh

2010-01-01

A biodegradable semi-interpenetrating hydrogel network (semi-IPN) of polyacrylamide and gelatin was prepared using polycaprolactone diacrylate (mol. wt ∼ 640) as a crosslinker. The drug-polymer interaction and IPN formation were investigated by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron micrographs of lyophilized matrices revealed porous internal structure with varying pore sizes under equilibrium hydrated conditions, depending upon formulation composition. pH-dependent swelling and degradation was enhanced with increasing gelatin content and decreasing crosslinker concentration (Cs). Compression modulus (CM) (at 20% strain) increased significantly from 23 ± 1.4 to 75 ± 2.7 kPa (p 0 C). Fitting of drug release data in the Korsmeyer-Peppas model suggested sustained release behavior up to 10 days with a combination of diffusion and erosion mechanism (0.5 t /M ∞ ≤ 0.6). The newly developed porous, biodegradable and elastic semi-IPNs may serve as an ideal matrix for controlled drug release and wound healing applications. The possibilities can be explored for pharmaceutical and tissue engineering applications.

Soft hydrogels interpenetrating silicone – a polymer network for drug releasing medical devices

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Steffensen, Søren Langer; Merete H., Vestergaard,; Møller, Eva Horn

2016-01-01

such a sophisticated material by forming an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) material through modification of silicone elastomers with a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-based hydrogel. IPN materials with a PHEMA content in the range of 13%–38% (w/w) were synthesized by using carbon dioxide...

Biodegradation study of enzymatically catalyzed interpenetrating polymer network: Evaluation of agrochemical release and impact on soil fertility

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Saruchi

2016-03-01

Full Text Available A novel interpenetrating polymer network (IPN has been synthesized through enzymatic initiation using lipase as initiator, glutaraldehyde as cross-linker, acrylic acid as primary monomer and acrylamide as secondary monomer. Biodegradability of synthesized interpenetrating polymer network was studied through soil burial and composting methods. Synthesized hydrogel was completely degraded within 70 days using composting method, while it was 86.03% degraded within 77 days using soil burial method. This was confirmed by Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM techniques. Synthesized interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel was used as a device for controlled release of urea and also act as water releasing device. Their impact on soil fertility and plant growth was also studied. The initial diffusion coefficient has a greater value than the later diffusion coefficient indicating a higher fertilizer release rate during the early stage. Fertilizer release kinetic was also studied which showed Non-Fickian diffusion behavior, as the rate of fertilizer release was comparable to the relaxation time of the synthesized matrix. Synthesized IPN enhance the water uptake capacity up to 6.2% and 7.2% in sandy loam and clay soil, respectively.

Processing and Dynamic Failure Characterization of Novel Impact Absorbing Transparent Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (t-IPN)

Science.gov (United States)

2014-02-01

samples were placed into the oven for the same curing treatment as before. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) photo in Figure 19 shows a typical...Interpenetrating Polymer Networks with Polyurethane and Methacrylate-based Polymers,’ S. A . Bird , PhD Dissertation, Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering...Jajam, H. V. Tippur, S. A . Bird , and M. L. Auad, Proceedings of the 50th SES Annual Technical Meeting and ASME-AMD Summer Meeting, Providence, RI

Interpenetrating polymer networks from acetylene terminated materials

Science.gov (United States)

Connell, J. W.; Hergenrother, P. M.

1989-01-01

As part of a program to develop high temperature/high performance structural resins for aerospace applications, the chemistry and properties of a novel class of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were investigated. These IPNs consist of a simple diacetylenic compound (aspartimide) blended with an acetylene terminated arylene ether oligomer. Various compositional blends were prepared and thermally cured to evaluate the effect of crosslink density on resin properties. The cured IPNs exhibited glass transition temperatures ranging from 197 to 254 C depending upon the composition and cure temperature. The solvent resistance, fracture toughness and coefficient of thermal expansion of the cured blends were related to the crosslink density. Isothermal aging of neat resin moldings, adhesive and composite specimens showed a postcure effect which resulted in improved elevated temperature properties. The chemistry, physical and mechanical properties of these materials will be discussed.

Polyvinylpyrrolidone-based semi-interpenetrating polymer networks as highly selective and chemically stable membranes for all vanadium redox flow batteries

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Zeng, L.; Zhao, T. S.; Wei, L.; Zeng, Y. K.; Zhang, Z. H.

2016-09-01

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) with their high flexibility in configuration and operation, as well as long cycle life are competent for the requirement of future energy storage systems. Nevertheless, due to the application of perfluorinated membranes, VRFBs are plagued by not only the severe migration issue of vanadium ions, but also their high cost. Herein, we fabricate semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPNs), consisting of cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polysulfone (PSF), as alternative membranes for VRFBs. It is demonstrated that the PVP-based SIPNs exhibit extremely low vanadium permeabilities, which contribute to the well-established hydrophilic/hydrophobic microstructures and the Donnan exclusion effect. As a result, the coulombic efficiencies of VRFBs with PVP-based SIPNs reach almost 100% at 40 mA cm-2 to 100 mA cm-2; the energy efficiencies are more than 3% higher than those of VRFBs with Nafion 212. More importantly, the PVP-based SIPNs exhibit a superior chemical stability, as demonstrated both by an ex situ immersion test and continuously cycling test. Hence, all the characterizations and performance tests reported here suggest that PVP-based SIPNs are a promising alternative membrane for redox flow batteries to achieve superior cell performance and excellent cycling stability at the fraction of the cost of perfluorinated membranes.

Some experiments to study diffusive transport through a semi interpenetrating polymeric network in the absence and presence of aqueous electrolytes

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Biswas, Pritha; Das, Atreyee; Yasmin, Tanvee; Kanjilal, Baishali; Chakrabarti, Haimanti

2018-05-01

The study of ion transport in biological system has become a topic of great current interest. This work presents the diffusive transport properties through a typical semi interpenetrating polymeric network (SIPN) which mimics many characteristic features of the walls of human food pipes. The SIPN matrix has been synthesised from Polyvinyl alcohol, Acrylamide monomer, Glutaraldehyde and Ammonium Per sulphate in our laboratory is utilised to study the diffusive transport in the absence and presence of aqueous electrolyte (KCl) at varying concentrations. The diffusivity of the SIPN polymer hydrogel was estimated by the `Theory of Elastomer' to get an insight into process of Potassium and Chlorine ion transport through the SIPN.

Study of SiO2/PMMA/CE tri-component interpenetrating polymer network composites

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang Junlong; Wang Chuang; Jiao Gengsheng; Wang Qiuya

2010-01-01

A technology of conjugated tri-component interpenetrating polymer networks was applied to synthesize a nano-SiO 2 /polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/cyanate (CE) composite through an asynchronous synthesis way. The microstructure of the composite was characterized using infrared spectroscopy (IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical properties were measured in German-made DL-1000B and XCL-40 universal material test machines, respectively. Results showed that both the impact strength and the flexural strength were in the optimum status when 3% SiO 2 /PMMA/CE was chosen as a sample with the PMMA/CE ratio of 20/80. Compared with the strengths of pure cyanate, those of the composite were raised by 137.28% and 31.29%, respectively. When 3% nano-SiO 2 was added, the impact strength was increased by 29.96% and the flexural strength by 20.05%, compared with the strengths of polymers without SiO 2 . Analysis and measurements by IR and TEM indicated that no chemical reactions took place among components in the composite. The interpenetration of the conjugated tri-component improved the loading capacity of the polymer, hence the toughness enhancement of cyanate.

Development of visible-light responsive and mechanically enhanced "smart" UCST interpenetrating network hydrogels.

Science.gov (United States)

Xu, Yifei; Ghag, Onkar; Reimann, Morgan; Sitterle, Philip; Chatterjee, Prithwish; Nofen, Elizabeth; Yu, Hongyu; Jiang, Hanqing; Dai, Lenore L

2017-12-20

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN), chlorophyllin-incorporated environmentally responsive hydrogel was synthesized and exhibited the following features: enhanced mechanical properties, upper critical solution temperature (UCST) swelling behavior, and promising visible-light responsiveness. Poor mechanical properties are known challenges for hydrogel-based materials. By forming an interpenetrating network between polyacrylamide (PAAm) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) polymer networks, the mechanical properties of the synthesized IPN hydrogels were significantly improved compared to hydrogels made of a single network of each polymer. The formation of the interpenetrating network was confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), the analysis of glass transition temperature, and a unique UCST responsive swelling behavior, which is in contrast to the more prevalent lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviour of environmentally responsive hydrogels. The visible-light responsiveness of the synthesized hydrogel also demonstrated a positive swelling behavior, and the effect of incorporating chlorophyllin as the chromophore unit was observed to reduce the average pore size and further enhance the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. This interpenetrating network system shows potential to serve as a new route in developing "smart" hydrogels using visible-light as a simple, inexpensive, and remotely controllable stimulus.

Printing continuously graded interpenetrating polymer networks of acrylate/epoxy by manipulating cationic network formation during stereolithography

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W. Li

2016-12-01

Full Text Available Ultra-violet (UV laser assisted stereolithography is used to print graded interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs by controlling network formation. Unlike the traditional process where structural change in IPNs is achieved by varying the feeding ratio of monomers or polymer precursors, in this demonstration property is changed by controlled termination of network formation. A photo-initiated process is used to construct IPNs by a combination of radical and cationic network formation in an acrylate/epoxy system. The extent of the cationic network formation is used to control the final properties of the system. Rapid-Scan Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (RS-FTIR is used to track the curing kinetics of the two networks and identify key parameters to control the final properties. Atomic force microscopy (AFM and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC confirm the formation of homogenous IPNs, whereas nano-indentation indicates that properties vary with the extent of cationic network formation. The curing characteristics are used to design and demonstrate printing of graded IPNs that show two orders of magnitude variation in mechanical properties in the millimeter scale.

Radiation preparation of interpenetrating polymer networks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sheikh, N.; Ahmadi, M.; Afshar Taromi, F.

2002-01-01

Sequential interpenetrating polymer netwoks were prepared using gamma radiation. Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were used as elastomer and plastomer components respectively. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were also used as the curing agent of SBR and crosslinker for MMA monomer. The resulting IPNs were characterized by evaluating their mechanical properties. The effect of the amount of DCP on the final properties of product was examined. It was found that amount of curing agent had an important role on the properties of obtained IPNS. The results of the mechanical properties of IPNs showed very good synergistic behavior. (Author)

Thermally rearranged (TR) bismaleimide-based network polymers for gas separation membranes.

Science.gov (United States)

Do, Yu Seong; Lee, Won Hee; Seong, Jong Geun; Kim, Ju Sung; Wang, Ho Hyun; Doherty, Cara M; Hill, Anita J; Lee, Young Moo

2016-11-15

Highly permeable, thermally rearranged polymer membranes based on bismaleimide derivatives that exhibit excellent CO 2 permeability up to 5440 Barrer with a high BET surface area (1130 m 2 g -1 ) are reported for the first time. In addition, the membranes can be easily used to form semi-interpenetrating networks with other polymers endowing them with superior gas transport properties.

Polycaprolactone diacrylate crosslinked biodegradable semi-interpenetrating networks of polyacrylamide and gelatin for controlled drug delivery

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jaiswal, Maneesh; Koul, Veena [Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016 (India); Dinda, Amit K [Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029 (India); Gupta, Asheesh, E-mail: veenak_iitd@yahoo.co [Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Ministry of Defense, New Delhi 110059 (India)

2010-12-15

A biodegradable semi-interpenetrating hydrogel network (semi-IPN) of polyacrylamide and gelatin was prepared using polycaprolactone diacrylate (mol. wt {approx} 640) as a crosslinker. The drug-polymer interaction and IPN formation were investigated by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Scanning electron micrographs of lyophilized matrices revealed porous internal structure with varying pore sizes under equilibrium hydrated conditions, depending upon formulation composition. pH-dependent swelling and degradation was enhanced with increasing gelatin content and decreasing crosslinker concentration (Cs). Compression modulus (CM) (at 20% strain) increased significantly from 23 {+-} 1.4 to 75 {+-} 2.7 kPa (p < 0.02) with increasing Cs (from 0.5 to 2.0 mol%), while it decreased from 162 {+-} 6.4 to 23 {+-} 1.4 kPa (p < 0.05) with decreasing PAm/G ratio. Cell viability studies by MTT assay showed excellent cytocompatibility of matrices with fibroblast L929 cells. Curcumin, a hydrophobic phytochemical, was loaded by a diffusion method and its release profile was investigated in 4% w/v aqueous BSA solution at 75 rpm (at 37 {+-} 0.2 {sup 0}C). Fitting of drug release data in the Korsmeyer-Peppas model suggested sustained release behavior up to 10 days with a combination of diffusion and erosion mechanism (0.5 < n < 1.0; M{sub t}/M{sub {infinity} {<=}} 0.6). The newly developed porous, biodegradable and elastic semi-IPNs may serve as an ideal matrix for controlled drug release and wound healing applications. The possibilities can be explored for pharmaceutical and tissue engineering applications.

Synthesis and characterization of p and n dopable interpenetrating polymer networks for organic photovoltaic devices

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lav, T.X.; Tran-Van, F.; Vidal, F.; Peralta, S.; Chevrot, C.; Teyssie, D.; Grazulevicius, J.V.; Getautis, V.; Derbal, H.; Nunzi, J.-M.

2008-01-01

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) based on carbazole derivatives and diacrylate perylene are synthesized in two steps via an in-situ process. From a spin-coated thin film of a mixture of the two precursors, the diacrylate perylene is first photopolymerized to form a network in the presence of the carbazole derivative which is then electropolymerized to elaborate the IPN. Electrochemical characterizations show that the carbazole and perylene are electroactive inside the film which confirm the p and n dopable properties of the IPN. AFM images of the IPNs show a homogenous and smooth surface, compared to single network, which indicate a high quality of association of each network which should allow an efficient p/n bulk heterojunction

Synthesis and characterization of p and n dopable interpenetrating polymer networks for organic photovoltaic devices

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lav, T.X. [Laboratoire de Physicochimie des Polymeres et des Interfaces, EA 2528 Universite de Cergy-Pontoise, 5 mail Gay-Lussac, 95031 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex (France); Tran-Van, F. [Laboratoire de Physicochimie des Polymeres et des Interfaces, EA 2528 Universite de Cergy-Pontoise, 5 mail Gay-Lussac, 95031 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex (France)], E-mail: francois.tran-van@u-cergy.fr; Vidal, F.; Peralta, S.; Chevrot, C.; Teyssie, D. [Laboratoire de Physicochimie des Polymeres et des Interfaces, EA 2528 Universite de Cergy-Pontoise, 5 mail Gay-Lussac, 95031 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex (France); Grazulevicius, J.V.; Getautis, V. [Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu Plentas 19, LT 50254 (Lithuania); Derbal, H.; Nunzi, J.-M. [PPF Cellules Solaires Photovoltaiques Plastiques - Laboratoire POMA, UMR-CNRS 6136, Universite d' Angers, 2 bd Lavoisier, 49045 Angers (France)

2008-08-30

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) based on carbazole derivatives and diacrylate perylene are synthesized in two steps via an in-situ process. From a spin-coated thin film of a mixture of the two precursors, the diacrylate perylene is first photopolymerized to form a network in the presence of the carbazole derivative which is then electropolymerized to elaborate the IPN. Electrochemical characterizations show that the carbazole and perylene are electroactive inside the film which confirm the p and n dopable properties of the IPN. AFM images of the IPNs show a homogenous and smooth surface, compared to single network, which indicate a high quality of association of each network which should allow an efficient p/n bulk heterojunction.

Understanding interpenetrating-polymer-network-like porous nitrile butadiene rubber hybrids by their long-period miscibility

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Jihua; Wang, Lifeng; Zhao, Yunfeng

2013-01-01

Highlights: • Hydrogen bonds are introduced into NBR to develop its IPN-like porous hybrids. • NBR is partly miscible with AO-60. • AO-60 possesses the viscoelastic behavior resembling that of polymers. • Phase separation aggravates and AO-60 crystallizes in the durations. • The porous hybrids may have potential damping applications. - Abstract: In this article, tetrakis [methylene-3-(3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy phenyl) propionyloxy] methane (AO-60) with hydrogen bonds was designed to interpenetrate into the chemical crosslinking bonds of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and then porous materials were prepared. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA) demonstrate that NBR is partly miscible with AO-60 which induces the micro-pores and interpenetrating-polymer-network (IPN)-like phase morphology in the hybrids. The wide double tan δ peak in DMA curve displays that AO-60 possesses similar viscoelastic behaviors to polymers which come from supramolecular interactions between polar groups of NBR chains and hydroxyl (OH) groups of AO-60. To further understand the supramolecular abilities of AO-60 in the rubber, the long-period observations for their miscibility are conducted. With the increase of durations, the hydrogen bond network from AO-60 is weakened. The phase separation between AO-60 and NBR is aggravated and even extremely few AO-60 crystallizes which develops multi-scale porous morphology in the hybrids. It is believed that these findings can serve as a guide for the designs of the IPN-like hybrids with small molecule substances and their applications of damping materials

PCL-PLLA Semi-IPN Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs): Degradation and Mechanical Properties.

Science.gov (United States)

Woodard, Lindsay N; Page, Vanessa M; Kmetz, Kevin T; Grunlan, Melissa A

2016-12-01

Thermoresponsive shape memory polymers (SMPs) based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) whose shape may be actuated by a transition temperature (T trans ) have shown utility for a variety of biomedical applications. Important to their utility is the ability to modulate mechanical and degradation properties. Thus, in this work, SMPs are formed as semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPNs) comprised of a cross-linked PCL diacrylate (PCL-DA) network and thermoplastic poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA). The semi-IPN uniquely allows for requisite crystallization of both PCL and PLLA. The influence of PLLA (PCL:PLLA wt% ratio) and PCL-DA molecular weight (n) on film properties are investigated. PCL-PLLA semi-IPNs are able to achieve enhanced mechanical properties and accelerated rates of degradation. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Injectable glycosaminoglycan-protein nano-complex in semi-interpenetrating networks: A biphasic hydrogel for hyaline cartilage regeneration.

Science.gov (United States)

Radhakrishnan, Janani; Subramanian, Anuradha; Sethuraman, Swaminathan

2017-11-01

Articular hyaline cartilage regeneration remains challenging due to its less intrinsic reparability. The study develops injectable biphasic semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPN) hydrogel impregnated with chondroitin sulfate (ChS) nanoparticles for functional cartilage restoration. ChS loaded zein nanoparticles (∼150nm) prepared by polyelectrolyte-protein complexation were interspersed into injectable SIPNs developed by blending alginate with poly(vinyl alcohol) and calcium crosslinking. The hydrogel exhibited interconnected porous microstructure (39.9±5.8μm pore diameter, 57.7±5.9% porosity), 92% swellability and >350Pa elastic modulus. Primary chondrocytes compatibility, chondrocyte-matrix interaction with cell-cell clustering and spheroidal morphology was demonstrated in ChS loaded hydrogel and long-term (42days) proliferation was also determined. Higher fold expression of cartilage-specific genes sox9, aggrecan and collagen-II was observed in ChS loaded hydrogel while exhibiting poor expression of collagen-I. Immunoblotting of aggregan and collagen II demonstrate favorable positive influence of ChS on chondrocytes. Thus, the injectable biphasic SIPNs could be promising composition-mimetic substitute for cartilage restoration at irregular defects. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Grafting of Interpenetrating Networks of Two Stimuli-responsive Polymers onto PP

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ruiz, J. C.

2006-01-01

In this work a new strategy was used to prepare interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of two 'stimuli-responsive' polymers: a thermosensitive poly N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) and pH sensitive poly acrylic acid (PAAc), the last grafted onto PP films. IPNs are a combination of two or more polymers in network form, which are mixed together (not chemically but physically), with al least one such polymer polymerized and/or crosslinked in the immediate presence of the other(s). The 'stimuli-responsive' polymers, also called 'smart' polymers, exhibit relatively large and sharp physical or chemical changes in response to small physical or chemical stimuli. These polymers are being used as hydrogels or copolymers for technical applications in chemical and mechanical engineering systems such as mass separation, chemical valves, temperature or pH indicators, biomedical and drug delivery systems. For these applications a rapid response and good mechanical properties are necessary. Formerly when PNIPAAm and PAAc were chemically combined their sensitivity was often altered or eliminated and their copolymer had poor mechanical properties. Attempts to solve this problem by creating IPN's with a reduced gel size or by using a macro-porous structure were successful in preserving sensitivity but failed to produce adequate mechanical properties. The object of this paper is to improve the past results of using a binary graft of PNIPAAm and PAAc onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) PTFE. Poly acrylic acid was grafted onto polypropylene films (with good mechanical properties) by gamma radiation in air (pre-irradiation method), then these grafts were crosslinked using any of the next two methods: The first one, the grafted film in water and argon atmosphere by gamma radiation; and the second one, in the same conditions, but adding a crosslinking agent N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm). The second network was carried out in situ, in the cross-linked PAAc grafted onto PP films, by

Evaluating the mechanical properties of E-Glass fiber/carbon fiber reinforced interpenetrating polymer networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

G. Suresh

2015-02-01

Full Text Available A series of vinyl ester and polyurethane interpenetrating polymer networks were prepared by changing the component ratios of VER (Vinyl ester and PU (Polyurethane and the polymerization process was confirmed with Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. IPN (Inter Penetrating Polymer Network - VER/PU reinforced Glass and carbon fiber composite laminates were made using the Hand lay up technique. The Mechanical properties of the E-glass and carbon fiber specimens were compared from tests including Tensile, Compressive, Flexural, ILSS (Inter Laminar Shear Strength, Impact & Head Deflection Test (HDT. The IPN Reinforced Carbon fiber specimen showed better results in all the tests than E-Glass fibre reinforced IPN laminate with same thickness of the specimen, according to ASTM standards. It was found that the combination of 60%VER and 40%PU IPN exhibits better impact strength and maximum elongation at break, but at the slight expense of mechanical properties such as tensile, compressive, flexural, ILSS properties. The morphology of the unreinforced and reinforced composites was analyzed with help of scanning electron microscopy.

Interpenetrated polymer networks based on commercial silicone elastomers and ionic networks with high dielectric permittivity and self-healing properties

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Ogliani, Elisa; Yu, Liyun; Skov, Anne Ladegaard

the applicability. One method used to avoid this limitation is to increase the dielectric permittivity of the material in order to improve the actuation response at a given field. Recently, interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on covalently cross-linked commercial silicone elastomers and ionic networks...... from amino- and carboxylic acid- functional silicones have been designed[2] (Figure 1). This novel system provides both the mechanical stability and the high breakdown strength given by the silicone part of the IPNs and the high permittivity and the softening effect of the ionic network. Thus......,1 Hz), and the commercial elastomers RT625 and LR3043/30 provide thebest viscoelastic properties to the systems, since they maintain low viscous losses upon addition of ionic network. The values ofthe breakdown strength in all cases remain higher than that of the reference pure PDMS network (ranging...

Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels Based on Gelatin and PVA by Biocompatible Approaches: Synthesis and Characterization

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Eltjani-Eltahir Hago

2013-01-01

Full Text Available In this work, a new approach was introduced to prepare interpenetrating polymer network PVA/GE hydrogels by cross-linking of various concentration gelatin in the presence of transglutaminase enzyme by using the freezing-thawing cycles technique. The effects of freezing-thawing cycles on the properties of morphological characterization, gel fraction, swelling, mechanical, and MTT assay were investigated. The IPN PVA/GE hydrogels showed excellent physical and mechanical Properties. MTT assay data and the fibroblasts culture also showed excellent biocompatibility and good proliferation. This indicates that the IPN hydrogels are stable enough for various biomedical applications.

Semi-interpenetrating network of acrylamide-grafted-sodium alginate microspheres for controlled release of diclofenac sodium, preparation and characterization.

Science.gov (United States)

Al-Kahtani, Ahmed A; Sherigara, B S

2014-03-01

The semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPNs) of acrylamide grafted sodium alginate (AAm-g-NaAlg) microspheres (MPs) were prepared by emulsion-crosslinking method using glutaraldehyde (GA) as a crosslinking agent. The grafting of acrylamide onto sodium alginate was prepared by free-radical graft polymerization using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as initiator at three acrylamide concentrations with monomer to polymer ratio of 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1, respectively. The grafting efficiency was found to be 91%. The produced MPs are almost spherical in nature with smooth surfaces. Diclofenac sodium (DS), an anti-inflammatory drug was successfully encapsulated into the MPs. The encapsulation efficiency was found to vary between 83% and 95%. The MPs were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The diffusion coefficient (D) was dependent upon the amount of crosslinking agent (GA) and amount of grafting ratio in the matrix. The rate of release was found to be dependent on the amount of GA, AAm:NaAlg grafting ratio and % drug loading in the MPs. The release data have been fitted to an empirical equation to investigate the diffusional exponent (n), which indicated that the release mechanism from MPs follows the super Case II transport. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of poly (n-butyl acrylate)-poly (methyl methacrylate) latex interpenetrating polymer networks by radiation-induced seeded emulsion polymerization

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yu Haibo [Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Peng Jing [Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China)], E-mail: jpeng@pku.edu.cn; Zhai Maolin; Li Jiuqiang; Wei Genshuan [Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); Qiao Jinliang [Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871 (China); SINOPEC Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Industry, Beijing 100013 (China)

2007-11-15

A series of latex interpenetrating polymer networks (LIPNs) were prepared via a two-stage emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) or mixture of MMA and n-butyl acrylate (n-BA) on crosslinked poly(n-butyl acrylate)(PBA) seed latex using {sup 60}Co {gamma}-ray radiation. The particles of resultant latex were produced with diameters between 150 and 250 nm. FTIR spectra identified the formation of crosslinked copolymers of PMMA or P(MMA-co-BA). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed that with increasing n-BA concentration in second-stage monomers, the particle size of LIPN increased. Transmission electron microscope(TEM) photographs showed that the morphology of resultant acrylate interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) latex varied from the distinct core-shell structure to homogenous particle structure with the increase of n-BA concentration, and the morphology was mainly controlled by the miscibility between crosslinked PBA seed and second-stage copolymers and polarity of P(MMA-co-BA)copolymers. In addition, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) measurements indicated the existence of reinforced miscibility between PBA seed and P(MMA-co-BA)copolymer in prepared LIPNs.

Control of polymer network topology in semi-batch systems

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Rui; Olsen, Bradley; Johnson, Jeremiah

Polymer networks invariably possess topological defects: loops of different orders. Since small loops (primary loops and secondary loops) both lower the modulus of network and lead to stress concentration that causes material failure at low deformation, it is desirable to greatly reduce the loop fraction. We have shown that achieving loop fraction close to zero is extremely difficult in the batch process due to the slow decay of loop fraction with the polymer concentration and chain length. Here, we develop a modified kinetic graph theory that can model network formation reactions in semi-batch systems. We demonstrate that the loop fraction is not sensitive to the feeding policy if the reaction volume maintains constant during the network formation. However, if we initially put concentrated solution of small junction molecules in the reactor and continuously adding polymer solutions, the fractions of both primary loop and higher-order loops will be significantly reduced. There is a limiting value (nonzero) of loop fraction that can be achieved in the semi-batch system in condition of extremely slow feeding rate. This minimum loop fraction only depends on a single dimensionless variable, the product of concentration and with single chain pervaded volume, and defines an operating zone in which the loop fraction of polymer networks can be controlled through adjusting the feeding rate of the semi-batch process.

Preparation and characterization of shape memory composite foams with interpenetrating polymer networks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yao, Yongtao; Zhou, Tianyang; Yang, Cheng; Leng, Jinsong; Liu, Yanju

2016-01-01

The present study reports a feasible approach of fabricating shape memory composite foams with an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) based on polyurethane (PU) and shape memory epoxy resin (SMER) via a simultaneous polymerization technique. The PU component is capable of constructing a foam structure and the SMER is grafted on the PU network to offer its shape memory property in the final IPN foams. A series of IPN foams without phase separation were produced due to good compatibility and a tight chemical interaction between PU and SMER components. The relationships of the geometry of the foam cell were investigated via varying compositions of PU and SMER. The physical property and shape memory property were also evaluated. The stimulus temperature of IPN shape memory composite foams, glass temperature (T g ), could be tunable by varying the constituents and T g of PU and SMER. The mechanism of the shape memory effect of IPN foams has been proposed. The shape memory composite foam with IPN developed in this study has the potential to extend its application field. (paper)

Two interpenetrating Cu{sup II}/Ni{sup II}-coordinated polymers based on an unsymmetrical bifunctional N/O-tectonic: Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liu, Yong-Liang [College of Materials & Chemical Engineering, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002 (China); Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Tailings Resources, Shang Luo University, Shang Luo 726000 (China); Wu, Ya-Pan [College of Materials & Chemical Engineering, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002 (China); Li, Dong-Sheng, E-mail: lidongsheng1@126.com [College of Materials & Chemical Engineering, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002 (China); Dong, Wen-Wen [College of Materials & Chemical Engineering, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002 (China); Zhou, Chun-Sheng [Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Tailings Resources, Shang Luo University, Shang Luo 726000 (China)

2015-03-15

Two new interpenetrating Cu{sup II}/Ni{sup II} coordination polymers, based on a unsymmetrical bifunctional N/O-tectonic 3-(pyrid-4′-yl)-5-(4″-carbonylphenyl)-1,2,4-triazolyl (H{sub 2}pycz), ([Cu-(Hpycz){sub 2}]·2H{sub 2}O){sub n} (1) and ([Ni(Hpycz){sub 2}]·H{sub 2}O){sub n} (2), have been solvothermally synthesized and structure characterization. Single crystal X-ray analysis indicates that compound 1 shows 2-fold parallel interpenetrated 4{sup 4}-sql layers with the same handedness. The overall structure of 1 is achiral—in each layer of doubly interpenetrating nets, the two individual nets have the opposite handedness to the corresponding nets in the adjoining layers—while 2 features a rare 8-fold interpenetrating 6{sup 6}-dia network that belongs to class IIIa interpenetration. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 both show similar paramagnetic characteristic properties. - Graphical abstract: Two new Cu(II)/Ni(II) coordination polymers present 2D parallel 2-fold interpenetrated 4{sup 4}-sql layers and a rare 3D 8-fold interpenetrating 6{sup 6}-dia network. In addition, magnetic susceptibility measurements show similar paramagnetic characteristic for two complexes. - Highlights: • A new unsymmetrical bifunctional N/O-tectonic as 4-connected spacer. • A 2-fold parallel interpenetrated sql layer with the same handedness. • A rare 8-fold interpenetrating dia network (class IIIa)

Concept of polymer alloy electrolytes: towards room temperature operation of lithium-polymer batteries

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Noda, Kazuhiro; Yasuda, Toshikazu; Nishi, Yoshio

2004-01-01

Polymer alloy technique is very powerful tool to tune the ionic conductivity and mechanical strength of polymer electrolyte. A semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) polymer alloy electrolyte, composed of non-cross-linkable siloxane-based polymer and cross-linked 3D network polymer, was prepared. Such polymer alloy electrolyte has quite high ionic conductivity (more than 10 -4 Scm -1 at 25 o C and 10 -5 Scm -1 at -10 o C) and mechanical strength as a separator film with a wide electrochemical stability window. A lithium metal/semi-IPN polymer alloy solid state electrolyte/LiCoO 2 cell demonstrated promising cycle performance with room temperature operation of the energy density of 300Wh/L and better rate performance than conventional PEO based lithium polymer battery ever reported

Structures and interactions in collapsed hydrogels of thermoresponsive interpenetrating polymer networks

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Hanyková, L.; Spěváček, Jiří; Radecki, M.; Zhigunov, Alexander; Šťastná, J.; Valentová, H.; Sedláková, Zdeňka

2015-01-01

Roč. 293, č. 3 (2015), s. 709-720 ISSN 0303-402X R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA13-23392S Institutional support: RVO:61389013 Keywords : temperature-induced volume phase transition * interpenetrating network * 1H NMR spectroscopy Subject RIV: CD - Macromolecular Chemistry Impact factor: 1.890, year: 2015

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonic acid membranes based on interpenetrating polymer networks for application in fuel cells; Sintese e caracterizacao de membranas sulfonadas baseadas em redes polimericas interpenetrantes para aplicacao em celulas a combustivel

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blanco, Lyzed Toloza; Loureiro, Felipe A.M.; Rocco, Ana Maria [Grupo de Materiais Condutores e Energia, Escola de Quimica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), RJ (Brazil)], e-mail: amrocco@eq.ufrj.br; Pereira, Robson Pacheco [Instituto de Ciencias Exatas, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Volta Redonda, RJ (Brazil)

2011-07-01

In the present work, the synthesis and characterization of sulfonic membranes based on interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN). In order to obtain such systems, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was polymerized in presence of polyethyleneimine (PEI). These membranes were submitted to sulfonation reactions, originating IPN-SO{sub 3}H membranes. The characterization by FTIR evidenced the formation of a Semi-IPN structure, while sulfonation reactions resulted in systems containing -SO{sub 3}H groups covalently bonded to the chains. The membranes exhibited water retention up to 200 degree C, in a temperature range sufficient for application in PEMFC under hydration. (author)

Simulation on the Performance of a Driven Fan Made by Polyester/Epoxy interpenetrate polymer network (IPN)

Science.gov (United States)

Fahrul Hassan, Mohd; Jamri, Azmil; Nawawi, Azli; Zaini Yunos, Muhamad; Fauzi Ahmad, Md; Adzila, Sharifah; Nasrull Abdol Rahman, Mohd

2017-08-01

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of a driven fan design made by Polyester/Epoxy interpenetrate polymer network (IPN) material that specifically used for turbocharger compressor. Polyester/Epoxy IPN is polymer plastics that was used as replacements for traditional polymers and has been widely used in a variety of applications because of their limitless conformations. Simulation based on several parameters which are air pressure, air velocity and air temperature have been carried out for a driven fan design performance of two different materials, aluminum alloy (existing driven fan design) and Polyester/Epoxy IPN using SolidWorks Flow Simulation software. Results from both simulations were analyzed and compared where both materials show similar performance in terms of air pressure and air velocity due to similar geometric and dimension, but Polyester/Epoxy IPN produces lower air temperature than aluminum alloy. This study shows a preliminary result of the potential Polyester/Epoxy IPN to be used as a driven fan design material. In the future, further studies will be conducted on detail simulation and experimental analysis.

Alginate-polyvinyl alcohol based interpenetrating polymer network for prolonged drug therapy, Optimization and in-vitro characterization.

Science.gov (United States)

Anwar, Hina; Ahmad, Mahmood; Minhas, Muhammad Usman; Rehmani, Sahrish

2017-06-15

A new natural and synthetic polymeric blend to form interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels was synthesized utilizing sodium alginate and PVA as polymers by free radical polymerization employing 2-Acylamido-2-methylpropane-sulfonic acid as monomer (AMPS) and tramadol HCl as model drug through 3 2 level full factorial design to evaluate the impact of selected independent factors i.e. polymer (sodium alginate) and monomer (AMPS) contents on swelling index at 18th hour, percent drug release at 18th hour, time required for 80% drug release and drug entrapment efficiency as dependent variables. FTIR, SEM, sol-gel analysis, equilibrium swelling studies and in-vitro release kinetics were performedfor in-vitro characterization of formulated IPN hydrogels. In-vitro studies carried out at pH 1.2 and pH 7.4 revealed pH independent swelling and drug release from polymeric IPN, providing controlled drug release for an extended period of time with improved entrapment efficiency, thereby concluding that this polymeric blend may be a promising system for the prolonged drug delivery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Fibrin-Based Interpenetrating Polymer Networks as Potential Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Olfat Gsib

2017-12-01

Full Text Available Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs have gained great attention for a number of biomedical applications due to their improved properties compared to individual components alone. In this study, we investigated the capacity of newly-developed naturally-derived IPNs as potential biomaterials for tissue engineering. These IPNs combine the biologic properties of a fibrous fibrin network polymerized at the nanoscale and the mechanical stability of polyethylene oxide (PEO. First, we assessed their cytotoxicity in vitro on L929 fibroblasts. We further evaluated their biocompatibility ex vivo with a chick embryo organotypic culture model. Subcutaneous implantations of the matrices were subsequently conducted on nude mice to investigate their biocompatibility in vivo. Our preliminary data highlighted that our biomaterials were non-cytotoxic (viability above 90%. The organotypic culture showed that the IPN matrices induced higher cell adhesion (across all the explanted organ tissues and migration (skin, intestine than the control groups, suggesting the advantages of using a biomimetic, yet mechanically-reinforced IPN-based matrix. We observed no major inflammatory response up to 12 weeks post implantation. All together, these data suggest that these fibrin-based IPNs are promising biomaterials for tissue engineering.

Photonic shape memory polymer with stable multiple colors

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Moirangthem, M.; Engels, T.A.P.; Murphy, J.; Bastiaansen, C.W.M.; Schenning, A.P.H.J.

2017-01-01

A photonic shape memory polymer film that shows large color response (∼155 nm) in a wide temperature range has been fabricated from a semi-interpenetrating network of a cholesteric polymer and poly(benzyl acrylate). The large color response is achieved by mechanical embossing of the photonic film

Soft silicone based interpenetrating networks as materials for actuators

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Yu, Liyun; Gonzalez, Lidia; Hvilsted, Søren

2014-01-01

A new approach based on silicone interpenetrating networks with orthogonal chemistries has been investigated with focus on developing soft and flexible elastomers with high energy densities and small viscous losses. The interpenetrating networks are made as simple two pot mixtures...... as for the commercial available silylation based elastomers such as Elastosil RT625. The resulting interpenetrating networks are formulated to be softer than RT625 to increase the actuation caused when applying a voltage due to their softness combined with the significantly higher permittivity than the pure silicone...

Enhancement of Lactobacillus reuteri KUB-AC5 survival in broiler gastrointestinal tract by microencapsulation with alginate-chitosan semi-interpenetrating polymer networks.

Science.gov (United States)

Rodklongtan, A; La-ongkham, O; Nitisinprasert, S; Chitprasert, P

2014-07-01

To evaluate an alginate-chitosan microcapsule for an intestinal probiotic delivery system for broilers. Lactobacillus reuteri KUB-AC5 was successfully microencapsulated with alginate and chitosan mixtures using an emulsion cross-linking method with high microencapsulation efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a large number of the bacteria entrapped in the semi-interpenetrating network. The microcapsule effectively protected the cells against strong acids. The in vitro study showed that the 8 log CFU g(-1) was released at the jejunum and ileum. For the in vivo study, the number of probiotics was detected by a polymerase chain reaction-based random amplified polymorphic DNA technique. From provision of 10 log CFU, cell numbers of 5-8 log CFU were observed in the intestine. The alginate-chitosan microcapsule can serve as a potential intestine-targeted probiotic delivery system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comparison study of the in vitro and in vivo gastrointestinal profiles of microencapsulated probiotics used as feed additives for broilers. This study reveals the similarities and differences of the in vitro and in vivo probiotic profiles and provides convincing evidence of the potential use of the alginate-chitosan microcapsule as a probiotic delivery system. © 2014 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Microstructured poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)/poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) interpenetrating network hydrogels: UV-scattering induced accelerated formation and tensile behavior

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Sadakbayeva, Zhansaya; Dušková-Smrčková, Miroslava; Šturcová, Adriana; Pfleger, Jiří; Dušek, Karel

2018-01-01

Roč. 101, April (2018), s. 304-313 ISSN 0014-3057 R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA17-08531S Institutional support: RVO:61389013 Keywords : hydrogels * interpenetrating polymer networks * kinetics Subject RIV: CD - Macromolecular Chemistry OBOR OECD: Polymer science Impact factor: 3.531, year: 2016

Interpenetrating polymer networks based on cyanate ester and fluorinated ethynyl-terminated imide oligomers

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Y. Wen

2017-12-01

Full Text Available Highly soluble fluorinated ethynyl-terminated imide (FETI oligomers were prepared via a conventional one-step method in m-cresol, using 4, 4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride and 2, 2′-bis(trifluoromethyl benzidine as the monomers, and ethynylphthalic anhydride as the end-capper; then interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN were formulated from FETI oligomers and bisphenol A dicyanate ester (BADCy through a solvent-free procedure, and their thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties were fully characterized. The curing mechanism was studied by model reactions using nitrogen nuclear magnetic resonance. As evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry analysis and rheological measurements, the FETI/BADCy blends exhibited lower curing temperature and shorter gelation time in comparison with pure BADCy due to the catalytic effects of ethynyl and residue amic acid groups. The properties of IPNs were fully compared with those of polycyanurate, and the results revealed that the incorporation of FETI into cyanate ester resins could significantly improve the toughness, glass transition temperatures, mechanical and dielectric properties of the resultant IPNs.

Segmental dynamics in poly(methyl acrylate)-poly(methyl methacrylate) sequential interpenetrating polymer networks: structural relaxation experiments

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ribelles, J L Gomez; Duenas, J M Meseguer; Cabanilles, C Torregrosa; Pradas, M Monleon

2003-01-01

The miscibility of poly(methyl acrylate)-poly(methyl methacrylate) sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) has been studied by probing the conformational mobility of the component polymer chains. These IPNs exhibit the phenomenon of forced compatibilization. In a conventional heating differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram, the highly cross-linked IPN shows a single glass transition which covers a temperature interval of around 100 d eg C; in contrast, loosely cross-linked IPNs show two glass transitions. The conformational mobility in these IPNs is studied by subjecting them to isothermal annealings at temperatures in the region of the glass transition and below it. The DSC scans measured after these treatments allow one to determine the temperature interval in which the sample is out of thermodynamic equilibrium but keeps enough conformational mobility to relax during the isothermal annealing in such a way that the enthalpy loss is measurable with the sensitivity of a conventional DSC. The results allow one to reach some conclusions about the compositional distribution of the IPN on the nanometre scale

Preparation and wear behavior of polymer matrix composites with an interpenetrating network structure derived from natural sponge

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang Tianchi; Zhou Tianle; Xiong Dangsheng

2010-01-01

Natural sponge was used as a template to produce carbon/epoxy resin and (carbon+silicon carbide)/epoxy resin composites with interpenetrating network structures. Carbon with a network structure was first obtained by pyrolysis of the natural sponge. The composites were then obtained by injecting epoxy resin and silicone resin into the carbon. Their microstructures and wear properties were analyzed. The results show that the natural structure of sponge controlled the interpenetrating network structures of the composites. The netlike carbon in the composites reduced the wear rate of the epoxy resin. Compared with the carbon/epoxy resin composite, the (carbon+silicon carbide)/epoxy resin composite shows better wear resistance.

UV-radiation curing of simultaneous interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels for enhanced heavy metal ion removal

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, Jingjing; Liu, Fang

2012-01-01

Highlights: ► Simultaneous IPN hydrogels were prepared by hybrid photopolymerization of AM and DVE-3. ► The synergistic complexation was found in the adsorption studies. ► The simultaneous IPN hydrogels could be used as fast-responsive and renewable sorbent materials. - Abstract: Simultaneous interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels have been prepared by UV-initiated polymerization of a mixture of acrylamide (AM) and triethylene glycol divinyl ether (DVE-3). The consumption of each monomer upon UV-irradiation was monitored in situ by real-time infrared (RTIR) spectroscopy. The acrylamide monomer AM was shown to polymerize faster and more extensively than the vinyl ether monomer DVE-3, which was further consumed upon storage of the sample in the dark, due to the living character of the cationic polymerization. The IPN hydrogels were used to remove heavy metal ions from aqueous solution under the non-competitive condition. The effects of pH values of the feed solution and the DVE-3 content in the formulation on the adsorption capacity were investigated. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity of the IPN hydrogels increased with the pH values and DVE-3 content in the formulation. Furthermore, the synergistic complexation of metal ions with two polymer networks in the IPN was found in the adsorption studies. Adsorption kinetics and regeneration studies suggested that the IPN hydrogels could be used as fast-responsive and renewable sorbent materials in heavy metal removing processes.

Dielectric elastomers, with very high dielectric permittivity, based on silicone and ionic interpenetrating networks

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Yu, Liyun; Madsen, Frederikke Bahrt; Hvilsted, Søren

2015-01-01

permittivity and the Young's modulus of the elastomer. One system that potentially achieves this involves interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs), based on commercial silicone elastomers and ionic networks from amino- and carboxylic acid-functional silicones. The applicability of these materials as DEs...... are obtained while dielectric breakdown strength and Young's modulus are not compromised. These good overall properties stem from the softening effect and very high permittivity of ionic networks – as high as ε′ = 7500 at 0.1 Hz – while the silicone elastomer part of the IPN provides mechanical integrity...

Physical properties of a high molecular weight hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane modified castor oil based polyurethane/epoxy interpenetrating polymer network composites

Science.gov (United States)

Chen, Shoubing; Wang, Qihua; Wang, Tingmei

2011-06-01

A series of polyurethane (PU)/epoxy resin (EP) graft interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composites modified by a high molecular weight hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (HTPDMS) were prepared. The effects of HTPDMS content on the phase structure, damping properties and the glass transition temperature ( Tg) of the HTPDMS-modified PU/EP IPN composites were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the thermal decomposition temperature of the composites increased with the increase of HTPDMS content. The tensile strength and impact strength of the IPN composites were also significantly improved, especially when the HTPDMS content was 10%. The modified IPN composites were expected to be used as structural damping materials in the future.

Semi-interpenetrating hybrid membranes containing ADOGEN{sup ®} 364 for Cd(II) transport from HCl media

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mora-Tamez, Lucía; Rodríguez de San Miguel, Eduardo; Briones-Guerash, Ulrich; Munguía-Acevedo, Nadia M.; Gyves, Josefina de, E-mail: degyves@unam.mx

2014-09-15

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Semi-interpenetrating hybrid membranes are used for quantitative cadmium(II) recovery. • Optimization of membrane and solutions compositions is performed. • Membranes present increased stability respect to polymer inclusion membranes. • Models for cadmium (II) extraction and transport are proposed. • Excellent selectivity for Cd(II) over Ni(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) was achieved. - Abstract: Cd(II) transport from 1 mol dm{sup −3} HCl media was investigated across semi-interpenetrating hybrid membranes (SIHMs) that were prepared by mixing an organic matrix composed of ADOGEN{sup ®} 364 as an extracting agent, cellulose triacetate as a polymeric support and nitrophenyloctyl ether as a plasticizer with an organic/inorganic network (silane phase, SP) composed of polydimethylsiloxane and a crosslinking agent. The stripping phase used was a 10{sup −2} mol dm{sup −3} ethanesulfonic acid solution. The effects of tetraorthoethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane and N′,N′-bis[3-tri(methoxysilyl)propyl]ethylendiamine as crosslinking agents on the transport were studied. H{sub 3}PO{sub 4} was used as an acid catalyst during the SP synthesis and optimized for transport performance. Solid–liquid extraction experiments were performed to determine the model that describe the transport of Cd(II) via ADOGEN{sup ®} 364. The transport was found to be chained-carrier controlled with a percolation threshold of 0.094 mmol g{sup −1}. The selective recovery of Cd(II) was studied with respect to Ni(II), Zn(II), Cu(II), and Pb(II) at a 1:1 molar ratio, and the optimized membrane system was applied for the recovery of Cd(II) from a real sample consisting of a Ni/Cd battery with satisfactory results. Finally, stability experiments were performed using the same membrane for 14 cycles. The results obtained showed that SIHMs had excellent stability and selectivity, with permeabilities comparable to those of PIMs.

Proton conducting semi-IPN based on Nafion and crosslinked poly(AMPS) for direct methanol fuel cell

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cho, Ki-Yun; Jung, Ho-Young; Shin, Seung-Shik; Choi, Nam-Soon; Sung, Shi-Joon; Park, Jung-Ki; Choi, Jong-Ho; Park, Kyung-Won; Sung, Yung-Eun

2004-01-01

For direct methanol fuel cell, the proton conducting membrane based on semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of Nafion and crosslinked poly(AMPS) was prepared and characterized. The modification of Nafion with crosslinked poly(AMPS) such as hydrocarbon polymer changed the state of water in membranes. Without a significant increase of the membrane resistance, the semi-IPNs demonstrated a reduction of the methanol permeability, comparing to the native Nafion. And the maximum power density of AMPS60 increased as much as 22.2% compared with Nafion

Characterization and swelling-deswelling properties of wheat straw cellulose based semi-IPNs hydrogel.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Jia; Li, Qian; Su, Yuan; Yue, Qinyan; Gao, Baoyu

2014-07-17

A novel wheat straw cellulose-g-poly(potassium acrylate)/polyvinyl alcohol (WSC-g-PKA/PVA) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) hydrogel was prepared by polymerizing wheat straw and an aqueous solution of acrylic acid (AA), and further semi-interpenetrating with PVA occurred during the chemosynthesis. The swelling and deswelling properties of WSC-g-PKA/PVA semi-IPNs hydrogel and WSC-g-PKA hydrogel were studied and compared in various pH solutions, salt solutions, temperatures, particle sizes and ionic strength. The results indicated that both hydrogels had the largest swelling capacity at pH=6, and the effect of ions on the swelling of hydrogels was in the order: Na(+)>K(+)>Mg(2+)>Ca(2+). The Schott's pseudo second order model can be effectively used to evaluate swelling kinetics of hydrogels. Moreover, the semi-IPNs hydrogel had improved swelling-deswelling properties compared with that of WSC-g-PKA hydrogel. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of semi-IPNs based on PVP and PLLA; Sintese e caracterizacao de semi-IPNs envolvendo os homopolimeros PVP e PLLA

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Camilo, A.P.R.; Mano, V., E-mail: mano@ufsj.edu.b [Universidade Federal de Sao Joao del Rei (UFSJ), MG (Brazil). Dept. de Ciencias Naturais; Felisberti, M.I. [Universidade Estadual de Campinas (IQ/UNICAMP), SP (Brazil). Inst. de Quimica

2010-07-01

The specific interest in the synthesis of semi-IPNs based on PLLA and PVP homopolymers due to the fact these are biodegradable and biocompatible, which allows us to infer applications in the medical field as sutures, implants, matrices for controlled release of drugs etc. The objective was to prepare a multicomponent material amphiphile in the form of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks, based on poly (L-lactide), PLLA, hydrophobic homopolymer, and poly (vinylpyrrolidone), PVP, hydrophilic component. The preparation of semi-IPN combined the polymerization and crosslinking of N-vinylpyrrolidone in the presence of poly (L-lactide). The products were characterized by spectroscopic and thermal methods. (author)

Dielectric electroactive polymers comprising an ionic supramolecular structure

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

2014-01-01

The present invention relates to an ionic interpenetrating polymer network comprising at least one elastomer and an ionic supramolecular structure comprising the reaction product of at least two chemical compounds wherein each of said compounds has at least two functional groups and wherein said ...... compounds are able to undergo Lewis acid-base reactions. The interpenetrating polymer network may be used as dielectric electroactive polymers (DEAPs) having a high dielectric permittivity....

Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN with Epoxidized and Acrylated Bioresins and their Composites with Glass and Jute Fibres

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Francisco Cardona

2016-02-01

Full Text Available Epoxidized (EHO and acrylated (AEHO bio-resins from hemp oil were synthesized, and their interpenetrating networks (IPNs were investigated in reinforced bio-composites with natural jute fibres and glass fibres. The mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, Charpy impact, and inter-laminar shear and viscoelastic properties (glass transition temperature, storage modulus, and crosslink density of the bio-resins and their hybrid IPNs EHO/AEHO system were investigated as a function of the level of bio-resin hybridization. The hybrid bio-resins exhibited interpenetrating network (IPN behaviour. Composites prepared with the synthetic vinyl ester (VE and epoxy resins showed superior mechanical and viscoelastic properties compared with their bio-resins and IPNs-based counterparts. With glass fibre (GF reinforcement, increases in the EHO content of the IPNs resulted in increased stiffness of the composites, while the strength, inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS, and impact resistance decreased. However, in the jute fibre reinforced bio-composites, increases in AEHO content generated increased tensile modulus, ILSS, and mechanical strength of the bio-materials. Crosslink density and glass transition temperature (Tg were also higher for the synthetic resins than for the bio-resins. Increased AEHO content of the IPNs resulted in improved viscoelastic properties.

Synthesis and characterization of semi-IPNs based on PVP and PLLA

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Camilo, A.P.R.; Mano, V.; Felisberti, M.I.

2010-01-01

The specific interest in the synthesis of semi-IPNs based on PLLA and PVP homopolymers due to the fact these are biodegradable and biocompatible, which allows us to infer applications in the medical field as sutures, implants, matrices for controlled release of drugs etc. The objective was to prepare a multicomponent material amphiphile in the form of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks, based on poly (L-lactide), PLLA, hydrophobic homopolymer, and poly (vinylpyrrolidone), PVP, hydrophilic component. The preparation of semi-IPN combined the polymerization and crosslinking of N-vinylpyrrolidone in the presence of poly (L-lactide). The products were characterized by spectroscopic and thermal methods. (author)

Thermosetting polyimide resin matrix composites with interpenetrating polymer networks for precision foil resistor chips based on special mechanical performance requirements

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, X.Y., E-mail: wxy@tju.edu.cn [School of Electronic Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China); Ma, J.X.; Li, C.G. [School of Electronic Information Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China); Wang, H.X. [ZHENGHE electronics Co., Ltd, Jining 272023 (China)

2014-04-01

Highlights: • Macromolecular materials were chosen to modify thermosetting polyimide (TSPI). • The formation of IPN structure in TSPI composite polymers was discussed. • The special mechanical properties required were the main study object. • The desired candidate materials should have proper hardness and toughness. • The specific mechanical data are quantitatively determined by experiments. - Abstract: Based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs) different macromolecular materials such as epoxy, phenolic, and silicone resin were chosen to modify thermosetting polyimide (TSPI) resin to solve the lack of performance when used for protecting precision foil resistor chips. Copolymerization modification, controlled at curing stage, was used to prepare TSPI composites considering both performance and process requirements. The mechanical properties related to trimming process were mainly studied due to the special requirements of the regularity of scratch edges caused by a tungsten needle. The analysis on scratch edges reveals that the generation and propagation of microcracks caused by scratching together with crack closure effect may lead to regular scratch traces. Experiments show that the elongation at break of TSPI composites is the main reason that determines the special mechanical properties. The desired candidate materials should have proper hardness and toughness, and the specific mechanical data are that the mean elongation at break and tensile strength of polymer materials are in the range of 9.2–10.4% and 100–107 MPa, respectively. Possible reasons for the effect of the modifiers chosen on TSPI polymers, the reaction mechanisms on modified TSPI resin and the IPN structure in TSPI composite polymers were discussed based on IR and TG analysis.

Thermosetting polyimide resin matrix composites with interpenetrating polymer networks for precision foil resistor chips based on special mechanical performance requirements

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, X.Y.; Ma, J.X.; Li, C.G.; Wang, H.X.

2014-01-01

Highlights: • Macromolecular materials were chosen to modify thermosetting polyimide (TSPI). • The formation of IPN structure in TSPI composite polymers was discussed. • The special mechanical properties required were the main study object. • The desired candidate materials should have proper hardness and toughness. • The specific mechanical data are quantitatively determined by experiments. - Abstract: Based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs) different macromolecular materials such as epoxy, phenolic, and silicone resin were chosen to modify thermosetting polyimide (TSPI) resin to solve the lack of performance when used for protecting precision foil resistor chips. Copolymerization modification, controlled at curing stage, was used to prepare TSPI composites considering both performance and process requirements. The mechanical properties related to trimming process were mainly studied due to the special requirements of the regularity of scratch edges caused by a tungsten needle. The analysis on scratch edges reveals that the generation and propagation of microcracks caused by scratching together with crack closure effect may lead to regular scratch traces. Experiments show that the elongation at break of TSPI composites is the main reason that determines the special mechanical properties. The desired candidate materials should have proper hardness and toughness, and the specific mechanical data are that the mean elongation at break and tensile strength of polymer materials are in the range of 9.2–10.4% and 100–107 MPa, respectively. Possible reasons for the effect of the modifiers chosen on TSPI polymers, the reaction mechanisms on modified TSPI resin and the IPN structure in TSPI composite polymers were discussed based on IR and TG analysis

Thermosensitive Behavior and Antibacterial Activity of Cotton Fabric Modified with a Chitosan-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogel

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Boxiang Wang

2016-03-01

Full Text Available To increase the themosensitive behavior and antibacterial activity of cotton fabric, a series of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide/chitosan (PNIPAAm/Cs hydrogels was synthesized by interpenetrating polymer network (IPN technology using a redox initiator. The IPN PNIPAAm/Cs hydrogel was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA. The results indicated that the IPN PNIPAAm/Cs hydrogel has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST at 33 °C. The IPN hydrogel was then used to modify cotton fabric using glutaric dialdehyde (GA as a crosslinking agent following a double-dip-double-nip process. The results demonstrated that the modified cotton fabric showed obvious thermosensitive behavior and antibacterial activity. The contact angle of the modified cotton fabric has a sharp rise around 33 °C, and the modified cotton fabric showed an obvious thermosensitive behavior. The bacterial reduction of modified cotton fabric against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus and Escherichia coli (E. coli were more than 99%. This study presents a valuable route towards smart textiles and their applications in functional clothing.

Study of castor oil polyurethane - poly(methyl methacrylate semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN reaction parameters using a 2³ factorial experimental design

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Fernanda Oliveira Vieira da Cunha

2004-12-01

Full Text Available In this work was employed a 2³ factorial experiment design to evaluate the castor oil polyurethane-poly(methyl methacrylate semi-IPN synthesis. The reaction parameters used as independent variables were NCO/OH molar ratio, polyurethane polymerization time and methyl methacrylate (MMA content. The semi-IPNs were cured over 28 h using two thermal treatments. The polymers were characterized by infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis and swelling profiles in n-hexane. The glass transition temperature (Tg and the swelling were more affect by the NCO/OH molar ratio variation. The semi-IPNs showed Tg from - 27 to - 6 °C and the swelling range was from 3 to 22%, according to the crosslink density. The IPN mechanical properties were dependent on the cure temperature and MMA content in it. Lower elastic modulus values were observed in IPNs cured at room temperature.

Cross-Linked Solid Polymer Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ben youcef, Hicham; Garcia-Calvo, Oihane; Lago, Nerea; Devaraj, Shanmukaraj; Armand, Michel

2016-01-01

Semi-interpenetrated network Solid Polymer Electrolytes (SPEs) were fabricated by UV-induced cross-linking of poly(ethyleneglycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) within a poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO) matrix (M v = 5 × 10 6 g mol −1 ), comprising lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt (LiTFSI), at a molar ratio of EO:Li ∼ 30:1. The influence of the DVB content on the final SPE properties was investigated in detail. An increase of DVB concentration resulted in self-standing polymer electrolytes. The DVB cross-linker incorporation was found to decrease the crystallinity of the PEO matrix from 34% to 23%, with a decrease in the melting temperature (T m ) of the membrane from 50 °C to 34 °C. Moreover, the influence of the DVB concentration on the ionic conductivity was determined for polymer electrolytes with 0, 10, 20 and 45% DVB from room temperature (RT) to 80 °C. The resulting SPEs showed a high electrochemical stability of 4.3 V as well as practical conductivity values exceeding 10 −4 S cm −1 at 70 °C. Cycling performance of these semi-interpenetrated SPE’s have been shown with a Li metal polymer battery and all solid -state Li sulphur battery.

Self-assembled interpenetrating networks by orthogonal self assembly of surfactants and hydrogelators

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Brizard, Aurelie M.; Stuart, Marc C. A.; van Esch, Jan H.

2009-01-01

Interpenetrating networks (IPN) consist of two or more networks of different components which are entangled on a molecular scale and cannot be separated without breaking at least one of the networks. They are of great technological interest because they allow the blending of two or more otherwise

Semi-metallic polymers

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Bubnova, Olga; Khan, Zia Ullah; Wang, Hui

2014-01-01

Polymers are lightweight, flexible, solution-processable materials that are promising for low-cost printed electronics as well as for mass-produced and large-area applications. Previous studies demonstrated that they can possess insulating, semiconducting or metallic properties; here we report...... that polymers can also be semi-metallic. Semi-metals, exemplified by bismuth, graphite and telluride alloys, have no energy bandgap and a very low density of states at the Fermi level. Furthermore, they typically have a higher Seebeck coefficient and lower thermal conductivities compared with metals, thus being...... a Fermi glass to a semi-metal. The high Seebeck value, the metallic conductivity at room temperature and the absence of unpaired electron spins makes polymer semi-metals attractive for thermoelectrics and spintronics....

Enhanced adsorption of methyl violet and congo red by using semi and full IPN of polymethacrylic acid and chitosan.

Science.gov (United States)

Maity, Jayabrata; Ray, Samit Kumar

2014-04-15

Semi and full interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) type hydrogels were prepared by free radical in situ polymerization of methacrylic acid in presence of chitosan using N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) and glutaraldehyde (for full IPN) as crosslinker. Several semi and full IPN type hydrogels were prepared by varying initiator and crosslinker concentration and also monomer to chitosan mass ratio. These hydrogels were characterized and used for removal of methyl violet and congo red dye from water. Isotherms and kinetics of dye adsorption were also evaluated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Taste masking of ofloxacin and formation of interpenetrating polymer network beads for sustained release

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

A. Michael Rajesh

2017-08-01

Full Text Available The objective of this study was to carry out taste masking of ofloxacin (Ofl by ion exchange resins (IERs followed by sustained release of Ofl by forming interpenetrating polymer network (IPN beads. Drug-resin complexes (DRCs with three different ratios of Ofl to IERs (1:1, 1:2, 1:4 were prepared by batch method and investigated for in vivo and in vitro taste masking. DRC of methacrylic acid-divinyl benzene (MD resin and Ofl prepared at a ratio of 1:4 was used to form IPN beads. IPN beads of MD 1:4 were prepared by following the ionic cross-linking method using sodium carboxymethyl xanthan gum (SCMXG and SCMXG-sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMXG-SCMC. IPN beads were characterized with FT-IR and further studied on sustained release of Ofl at different pH. In vivo taste masking carried out by human volunteers showed that MD 1:4 significantly reduced the bitterness of Ofl. Characterization studies such as FT-IR, DSC, P-XRD and taste masking showed that complex formation took place between drug and resin. In vitro study at gastric pH showed complete release of drug from MD 1:4 within 30 min whereas IPN beads took 5 h at gastric pH and 10 h at salivary pH for the complete release of drug. As the crosslinking increased the release kinetics changed into non-Fickian diffusion to zero-order release mechanism. MD 1:4 showed better performance for the taste masking of Ofl and IPNs beads prepared from it were found useful for the sustained release of Ofl at both the pH, indicating a versatile drug delivery system.

Wood hemicellulose/chitosan-based semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels : mechanical swelling and controlled drug release properties

Science.gov (United States)

Ahmet M. Karaaslan; Mandla A. Tshabalala; Gisela Buschle-Diller

2010-01-01

The cell wall of most plant biomass from forest and agricultural resources consists of three major polymers, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Of these, hemicelluloses have gained increasing attention as sustainable raw materials. In this study, novel pH-sensitive semi-IPN hydrogels based on hemicelluloses and chitosan were prepared using glutaraldehyde as the...

Taste masking of ciprofloxacin by ion-exchange resin and sustain release at gastric-intestinal through interpenetrating polymer network

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

A. Michael Rajesh

2015-07-01

Full Text Available The aim of the study was to taste mask ciprofloxacin (CP by using ion-exchange resins (IERs followed by sustain release of CP by forming interpenetrating polymer network (IPN. IERs based on the copolymerization of acrylic acid with different cross linking agents were synthesised. Drug-resin complexes (DRCs with three different ratios of drug to IERs (1:1, 1:2, 1:4 were prepared & evaluated for taste masking by following in vivo and in vitro methods. Human volunteers graded ADC 1:4, acrylic acid-divinyl benzene (ADC-3 resin as tasteless. Characterization studies such as FTIR, SEM, DSC, P-XRD differentiated ADC 1:4, from physical mixture (PM 1:4 and confirmed the formation of complex. In vitro drug release of ADC 1:4 showed complete release of CP within 60 min at simulated gastric fluid (SGF i.e. pH 1.2. IPN beads were prepared with ADC 1:4 by using sodium alginate (AL and sodium alginate-chitosan (AL-CS for sustain release of CP at SGF pH and followed by simulated intestinal fluid (SIF i.e. pH 7.4. FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of IPN beads. The release of CP was sustain at SGF pH (75%. The kinetic model of IPN beads showed the release of CP was non-Fickian diffusion type.

Ion conducting interpenetrated lattices for lithium generators; Reseaux interpenetres conducteurs ioniques pour generateurs au lithium

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Grosz, M.; Boileau, S. [College de France, 75 - Paris (France); Guegan, P.; Cheradame, H. [Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 94 - Thiais (France). LPCB; Deshayes, A. [CNET, 92 - Issy-les-Moulineaux (France)

1996-12-31

Interpenetrated lattices (IPL) are combinations of reticulated polymers linked together by permanent crisscross. This structure is well-adapted to combined highly incompatible pairs of polymers. The in-situ sequential method has been applied successfully to the synthesis of ethylene poly-oxides / poly-siloxanes IPLs. The results concerning the preparation of such lattices and their behaviour as solid polymer electrolytes are presented in this paper. (J.S.) 24 refs.

Ion conducting interpenetrated lattices for lithium generators; Reseaux interpenetres conducteurs ioniques pour generateurs au lithium

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Grosz, M; Boileau, S [College de France, 75 - Paris (France); Guegan, P; Cheradame, H [Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 94 - Thiais (France). LPCB; Deshayes, A [CNET, 92 - Issy-les-Moulineaux (France)

1997-12-31

Interpenetrated lattices (IPL) are combinations of reticulated polymers linked together by permanent crisscross. This structure is well-adapted to combined highly incompatible pairs of polymers. The in-situ sequential method has been applied successfully to the synthesis of ethylene poly-oxides / poly-siloxanes IPLs. The results concerning the preparation of such lattices and their behaviour as solid polymer electrolytes are presented in this paper. (J.S.) 24 refs.

Life test of DMFC using poly(ethylene glycol)bis(carboxymethyl)ether plasticized PVA/PAMPS proton-conducting semi-IPNs

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Qiao, Jinli [National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Higashi 1-1-1, Central 5, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565 (Japan); New Energy Technology Research Center, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804 (China); Ikesaka, Shinya; Saito, Morihiro; Kuwano, Jun [Department of Industrial Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 12-1 Ichigayafunagawara-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0826 (Japan); Okada, Tatsuhiro [National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Higashi 1-1-1, Central 5, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565 (Japan)

2007-08-15

A novel, low-cost proton-conducting semi-IPN (semi-interpenetrating polymer network) has been successfully prepared from PVA/PAMPS (poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(2-acrylamindo-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid))blends by incorporating poly(ethylene glycol)bis(carboxymethyl)ether (PEGBCME) as a novel plasticizer. Although, the polymer is based on a relatively low content of PAMPS as a component of ion conducting sites, the resulting semi-IPN exhibited high proton conductivity (0.1 S cm{sup -1}) at 25 C, which afforded a higher power density of 51 mW cm{sup -2} at 80 C. A striking feature is that a long-term initial performance is achieved with a 130 h of stable fuel cell operation in DMFC mode due to effectively suppressed methanol crossover. This is a new record for a fully hydrocarbon membrane in DMFC, seeing that the PVA-PAMPS proton-conducting semi-IPNs are made simply of aliphatic skeletons. (author)

Photoinduced FT-IR spectroscopy and CW-photocurrent measurements of conjugated polymers and fullerenes blended into a conventional polymer matrix

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Brabec, C.J.; Johannson, H.; Padinger, F.; Neugebauer, H.; Hummelen, J.C.; Sariciftci, N.S.

2000-01-01

In this work we present an investigation of the photoexcited states in conjugated polymer (donor) - fullerene (acceptor) interpenetrating networks embedded into conventional polymer hosts like polystyrene (PS), polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) or polyvinylbenzylchloride (PVBC) (guest - host approach), using

Synthesis of wheat straw cellulose-g-poly (potassium acrylate)/PVA semi-IPNs superabsorbent resin.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Jia; Li, Qian; Su, Yuan; Yue, Qinyan; Gao, Baoyu; Wang, Rui

2013-04-15

To better use wheat straw and minimize its negative impact on environment, a novel semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) superabsorbent resin (SAR) composed of wheat straw cellulose-g-poly (potassium acrylate) (WSC-g-PKA) network and linear polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was prepared by polymerization in the presence of a redox initiating system. The structure and morphology of semi-IPNs SAR were characterized by means of FTIR, SEM and TGA, which confirmed that WSC and PVA participated in the graft polymerization reaction with acrylic acid (AA). The factors that can influence the water absorption of the semi-IPNs SAR were investigated and optimized, including the weight ratios of AA to WSC and PVA to WSC, the content of initiator and crosslinker, neutralization degree (ND) of AA, reaction temperature and time. The semi-IPNs SAR prepared under optimized synthesis condition gave the best water absorption of 266.82 g/g in distilled water and 34.32 g/g in 0.9 wt% NaCl solution. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Heterogeneous Ceramic-Polymer Composite Using Interpenetrating Network

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Eun-Hee, K.; Yeon-Gil, J.; Chang-Yong, J.

2012-01-01

Prepolymer, which can be polymerized by a photo, has been infiltrated into a porous ceramic to improve the addition effect of polymer into the ceramic, as a function of the functionality of prepolymer. It induces the increase in the mechanical properties of the ceramic. The porous alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) and the polyurethane acrylate (PUA) with a network structure by photo-polymerization were used as the matrix and infiltration materials, respectively. The porous Al 2 O 3 matrix without the polymer shows lower values in fracture strength than the composites, since the stress is transmitted more quickly via propagation of cracks from intrinsic defects in the porous matrix. However, in the case of composites, the distribution of stress between hetero phases results in the improved mechanical properties. In addition, the mechanical properties of composites, such as elastic modulus and fracture strength, are enhanced with increasing the functionality of prepolymer attributed to the crosslinking density of polymer.

Chemical and phase structure of poly cyanurate-polyurethane grafted semi interpenetrating polymer networks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Fainleib, A.M.; Gomza, Yu.P.; Privalko, V.P.; Bershtein, V.A.; Carini, G.

2001-01-01

In this research the phase morphology and properties of dicyanate ester of bisphenol A (DCEBA) based poly cyanurate network (PCN) modified with linear polyurethane (LPU) were successfully studied by the combination of infra-red spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), differential scanning calorimetry and laser-interferometric creep rate spectroscopy

Morphology and damping behavior of polyurethane/PMMA simultaneous interpenetrating networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Wang S.H.

2001-01-01

Full Text Available A series of polyurethane/PMMA simultaneous interpenetrating networks (SINs with various hard segment contents (X in the polyurethane phase (X = 15.5 to 36.5% in polyurethane and wide range of polyurethane (PU to polyacrylate (PA ratio (PU/PA = 20:80 to 80:20 were prepared, and the damping and mechanical properties of these materials were studied. The damping of polyurethane soft phase was increased and shifted to lower temperature with increased content of PA vitreous phase. The mechanical properties were improved with increasing PA contents. The results show that PA and the polyurethane hard segment interaction play a special role in chain interpenetration density and its magnitude is revealed by the decreased dispersed domain size observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM and increased loss area as measured by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA. When the weight ratio of PU/PA was 40:60, the resulting SIN materials possessed better damping properties, independent of X concentration.

Preparation and Properties of a Novel Semi-IPN Slow-Release Fertilizer with the Function of Water Retention.

Science.gov (United States)

Xiang, Yang; Ru, Xudong; Shi, Jinguo; Song, Jiang; Zhao, Haidong; Liu, Yaqing; Guo, Dongdong; Lu, Xin

2017-12-20

A new semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) slow-release fertilizer (SISRF) with water absorbency, based on the kaolin-g-poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylic amide) (kaolin-g-P(AA-co-AM)) network and linear urea-formaldehyde oligomers (UF), was prepared by solution polymerization. Nutrients phosphorus and potassium were supplied by adding dipotassium hydrogen phosphate during the preparation process. The structure and properties of SISRF were characterized by various characterization methods. SISRF showed excellent water absorbency of 68 g g -1 in tap water. The slow-release behavior of nutrients and water-retention capacity of SISRF were also measured. Meanwhile, the swelling kinetics was well described by a pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Results suggested the formation of SISRF with simultaneously good slow-release and water-retention capacity, which was expected to apply in modern agriculture and horticulture.

Separating topographical and chemical analysis of nanostructure of polymer composite in low voltage SEM

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wan, Q; Plenderleith, R A; Claeyssens, F; Rodenburg, C; Dapor, M; Rimmer, S

2015-01-01

The possibility of separating the topographical and chemical information in a polymer nano-composite using low-voltage SEM imaging is demonstrated, when images are acquired with a Concentric Backscattered (CBS) detector. This separation of chemical and topographical information is based on the different angular distribution of electron scattering which were calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation based on angular restricted detection was applied to a semi-branched PNIPAM/PEGDA interpenetration network for which a linear relationship of topography SEM contrast and feature height data was observed. (paper)

Tailoring the mechanical properties by molecular integration of flexible and stiff polymer networks.

Science.gov (United States)

Wan, Haixiao; Shen, Jianxiang; Gao, Naishen; Liu, Jun; Gao, Yangyang; Zhang, Liqun

2018-03-28

Designing a multiple-network structure at the molecular level to tailor the mechanical properties of polymeric materials is of great scientific and technological importance. Through the coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation, we successfully construct an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composed of a flexible polymer network and a stiff polymer network. First, we find that there is an optimal chain stiffness for a single network (SN) to achieve the best stress-strain behavior. Then we turn to study the mechanical behaviors of IPNs. The result shows that the stress-strain behaviors of the IPNs appreciably exceed the sum of that of the corresponding single flexible and stiff network, which highlights the advantage of the IPN structure. By systematically varying the stiffness of the stiff polymer network of the IPNs, optimal stiffness also exists to achieve the best performance. We attribute this to a much larger contribution of the non-bonded interaction energy. Last, the effect of the component concentration ratio is probed. With the increase of the concentration of the flexible network, the stress-strain behavior of the IPNs is gradually enhanced, while an optimized concentration (around 60% molar ration) of the stiff network occurs, which could result from the dominant role of the enthalpy rather than the entropy. In general, our work is expected to provide some guidelines to better tailor the mechanical properties of the IPNs made of a flexible network and a stiff network, by manipulating the stiffness of the stiff polymer network and the component concentration ratio.

Exploring 3D non-interpenetrated metal-organic framework with malonate-bridged Co(II) coordination polymer: structural elucidation and theoretical study

Science.gov (United States)

Hossain, Anowar; Mandal, Tripti; Mitra, Monojit; Manna, Prankrishna; Bauzá, Antonio; Frontera, Antonio; Seth, Saikat Kumar; Mukhopadhyay, Subrata

2017-12-01

A Co(II)-based coordination polymer with tetranuclear cobalt(II)-malonate cluster has been easily generated by aqueous medium self-assembly from Cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate and malonic acid. The structure exhibits a non-interpenetrating, highly undulating two-dimensional (2D) bi-layer network with (4,4) topology. The crystal structure is composed of infinite interdigitated 2D metal-organic bi-layers which extended to an intricate 3D framework through the interbilayer hydrogen bonds. We have studied energetically by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations the H-bonding interactions that connect the 2D metal-organic bi-layers. The finite theoretical models have been used to compute conventional O‒H•••O and unconventional C‒H•••O interactions which plays a key role to build 3D architecture.

WOOD HEMICELLULOSE/CHITOSAN-BASED SEMI-INTERPENETRATING NETWORK HYDROGELS: MECHANICAL, SWELLING AND CONTROLLED DRUG RELEASE PROPERTIES

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Muzaffer Ahmet Karaaslan

2010-04-01

Full Text Available The cell wall of most plant biomass from forest and agricultural resources consists of three major polymers, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Of these, hemicelluloses have gained increasing attention as sustainable raw materials. In this study, novel pH-sensitive semi-IPN hydrogels based on hemicelluloses and chitosan were prepared using glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. The hemicellulose isolated from aspen was analyzed for sugar content by HPLC, and its molecular weight distribution was determined by high performance size exclusion chromatography. Results revealed that hemicellulose had a broad molecular weight distribution with a fair amount of polymeric units, together with xylose, arabinose, and glucose. The effects of hemicellulose content on mechanical properties and swelling behavior of hydrogels were investigated. The semi-IPNs hydrogel structure was confirmed by FT-IR, X-ray study, and the ninhydrin assay method. X-ray analysis showed that higher hemicellulose contents yielded higher crystallinity. Mechanical properties were mainly dependent on the crosslink density and average molecular weight between crosslinks. Swelling ratios increased with increasing hemicellulose content and were high at low pH values due to repulsion between similarly charged groups. In vitro release study of a model drug showed that these semi-IPN hydrogels could be used for controlled drug delivery into gastric fluid.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Heterogeneous Ceramic-Polymer Composite Using Interpenetrating Network

OpenAIRE

Kim, Eun-Hee; Jung, Yeon-Gil; Jo, Chang-Yong

2012-01-01

Prepolymer, which can be polymerized by a photo, has been infiltrated into a porous ceramic to improve the addition effect of polymer into the ceramic, as a function of the functionality of prepolymer. It induces the increase in the mechanical properties of the ceramic. The porous alumina (Al2O3) and the polyurethane acrylate (PUA) with a network structure by photo-polymerization were used as the matrix and infiltration materials, respectively. The porous Al2O3 matrix without t...

Bulletin of Materials Science | Indian Academy of Sciences

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Home; Journals; Bulletin of Materials Science; Volume 31; Issue 2. Studies on in vitro release of CPM from semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composed of chitosan and glutamic acid. K Kumari P P Kundu. Polymers Volume 31 Issue 2 April 2008 pp 159-167 ...

Interpenetrating metal-organic and inorganic 3D networks: a computer-aided systematic investigation. Part II [1]. Analysis of the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Baburin, I.A.; Blatov, V.A.; Carlucci, L.; Ciani, G.; Proserpio, D.M.

2005-01-01

Interpenetration in metal-organic and inorganic networks has been investigated by a systematic analysis of the crystallographic structural databases. We have used a version of TOPOS (a package for multipurpose crystallochemical analysis) adapted for searching for interpenetration and based on the concept of Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra and on the representation of a crystal structure as a reduced finite graph. In this paper, we report comprehensive lists of interpenetrating inorganic 3D structures from the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD), inclusive of 144 Collection Codes for equivalent interpenetrating nets, analyzed on the basis of their topologies. Distinct Classes, corresponding to the different modes in which individual identical motifs can interpenetrate, have been attributed to the entangled structures. Interpenetrating nets of different nature as well as interpenetrating H-bonded nets were also examined

21 CFR 888.3560 - Knee joint patellofemorotibial polymer/metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Knee joint patellofemorotibial polymer/metal... Devices § 888.3560 Knee joint patellofemorotibial polymer/metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis. (a) Identification. A knee joint patellofemorotibial polymer/metal/polymer semi-constrained...

Semi-Degradable Poly(β-amino ester) Networks with Temporally-Controlled Enhancement of Mechanical Properties

Science.gov (United States)

Safranski, David L.; Weiss, Daiana; Clark, J. Brian; Taylor, W.R.; Gall, Ken

2014-01-01

Biodegradable polymers are clinically used in numerous biomedical applications, and classically show a loss in mechanical properties within weeks of implantation. This work demonstrates a new class of semi-degradable polymers that show an increase in mechanical properties through degradation via a controlled shift in a thermal transition. Semi-degradable polymer networks, poly(β-amino ester)-co-methyl methacrylate, were formed from a low glass transition temperature crosslinker, poly(β-amino ester), and high glass transition temperature monomer, methyl methacrylate, which degraded in a manner dependent upon the crosslinker chemical structure. In vitro and in vivo degradation revealed changes in mechanical behavior due to the degradation of the crosslinker from the polymer network. This novel polymer system demonstrates a strategy to temporally control the mechanical behavior of polymers and to enhance the initial performance of smart biomedical devices. PMID:24769113

Semi-degradable poly(β-amino ester) networks with temporally controlled enhancement of mechanical properties.

Science.gov (United States)

Safranski, David L; Weiss, Daiana; Clark, J Brian; Taylor, W Robert; Gall, Ken

2014-08-01

Biodegradable polymers are clinically used in numerous biomedical applications, and classically show a loss of mechanical properties within weeks of implantation. This work demonstrates a new class of semi-degradable polymers that show an increase in mechanical properties through degradation via a controlled shift in a thermal transition. Semi-degradable polymer networks, poly(β-amino ester)-co-methyl methacrylate, were formed from a low glass transition temperature crosslinker, poly(β-amino ester), and high glass transition temperature monomer, methyl methacrylate, which degraded in a manner dependent upon the crosslinker chemical structure. In vitro and in vivo degradation revealed changes in mechanical behavior due to the degradation of the crosslinker from the polymer network. This novel polymer system demonstrates a strategy to temporally control the mechanical behavior of polymers and to enhance the initial performance of smart biomedical devices. Copyright © 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural optimization of interpenetrated pillared-layer coordination polymers for ethylene/ethane separation.

Science.gov (United States)

Kishida, Keisuke; Horike, Satoshi; Watanabe, Yoshihiro; Tahara, Mina; Inubushi, Yasutaka; Kitagawa, Susumu

2014-06-01

With the goal of achieving effective ethylene/ethane separation, we evaluated the gas sorption properties of four pillared-layer-type porous coordination polymers with double interpenetration, [Zn2(tp)2(bpy)]n (1), [Zn2(fm)2(bpe)]n (2), [Zn2(fm)2(bpa)]n (3), and [Zn2(fm)2(bpy)]n (4) (tp = terephthalate, bpy = 4,4'-bipyridyl, fm = fumarate, bpe = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene and bpa = 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethane). It was found that 4, which contains the narrowest pores of all of these compounds, exhibited ethylene-selective sorption profiles. The ethylene selectivity of 4 was estimated to be 4.6 at 298 K based on breakthrough experiments using ethylene/ethane gas mixtures. In addition, 4 exhibited a good regeneration ability compared with a conventional porous material. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Temperature-induced phase transition in hydrogels of interpenetrating networks poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Šťastná, J.; Hanyková, L.; Sedláková, Zdeňka; Valentová, H.; Spěváček, Jiří

2013-01-01

Roč. 291, č. 10 (2013), s. 2409-2417 ISSN 0303-402X R&D Projects: GA ČR GA202/09/1281 Institutional support: RVO:61389013 Keywords : temperature-induced volume phase transition * poly (N-isopropylmethacrylamide) poly (Nisopropylacrylamide) interpenetrating network * 1H NMR spectroscopy Subject RIV: CD - Macromolecular Chemistry Impact factor: 2.410, year: 2013

Irradiation sterilization of semi-crystalline polymers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Williams, J.; Dunn, T.; Stannett, V.

1978-01-01

A semi-crystalline polymer such as polypropylene, is sterilized by high energy irradiation, with the polymer containing a non-crystalline mobilizing additive which increases the free volume of the polymer, to prevent embrittlement of the polymer during and subsequent to the irradiation. The additive has a density of from 0.6 to 1.9 g/cm 3 and a molecular weight from 100 to 10,000 g/mole

Simple synthesis of nitrogen-rich polymer network and its further amination with PEI for CO2 adsorption

Science.gov (United States)

Yin, Fengqin; Zhuang, Linzhou; Luo, Xianyong; Chen, Shuixia

2018-03-01

The nitrogen-rich polymer network (MF/PAM) was synthesized through interpenetration between the molecular chains of melamine-formaldehyde resin(MF) and polyacrylamide (PAM), to which the polyethylene imine (PEI) was grafted to obtain solid amine adsorbent (MF/PAM-g-PEI). Compared with MF, the swelling capacity of MF/PAM was greatly enhanced, it could swell rapidly and directly in water. Although the interpenetration of PAM into MF may reduce the porosity of MF/PAM, the CO2 capture capacity of the solid amine adsorbents (MF/PAM-g-PEI) could still reach 2.8 mmol/g at 273 K. The adsorbents also exhibited promising adsorption kinetics and regeneration performances. The kinetics observation showed that the Avrami model could better descript the CO2 adsorption process compared with the pseudo-first-order model and pseudo-second-order model. Meanwhile, the Avrami kinetic orders (na) range from 1.21 to 1.56, displaying that the both physisorption and chemisorption exist in the adsorption process and the PEI have successfully grafted onto the polymer network, which also can be confirmed by the adsorption activation energy value. After 18 adsorption-desorption recycles, the MF/PAM-g-PEI could preserve its initial capacity without any decrease. Our work provides a new method to achieve promising solid amine adsorbents with higher adsorption capacity and better regeneration performance.

Interpenetrating network ceramic-resin composite dental restorative materials.

Science.gov (United States)

Swain, M V; Coldea, A; Bilkhair, A; Guess, P C

2016-01-01

This paper investigates the structure and some properties of resin infiltrated ceramic network structure materials suitable for CAD/CAM dental restorative applications. Initially the basis of interpenetrating network materials is defined along with placing them into a materials science perspective. This involves identifying potential advantages of such structures beyond that of the individual materials or simple mixing of the components. Observations from a number of recently published papers on this class of materials are summarized. These include the strength, fracture toughness, hardness and damage tolerance, namely to pointed and blunt (spherical) indentation as well as to burr adjustment. In addition a summary of recent results of crowns subjected to simulated clinical conditions using a chewing simulator are presented. These results are rationalized on the basis of existing theoretical considerations. The currently available ceramic-resin IPN material for clinical application is softer, exhibits comparable strength and fracture toughness but with substantial R-curve behavior, has lower E modulus and is more damage tolerant than existing glass-ceramic materials. Chewing simulation observations with crowns of this material indicate that it appears to be more resistant to sliding/impact induced cracking although its overall contact induced breakage load is modest. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development and optimization of locust bean gum and sodium alginate interpenetrating polymeric network of capecitabine.

Science.gov (United States)

Upadhyay, Mansi; Adena, Sandeep Kumar Reddy; Vardhan, Harsh; Pandey, Sureshwar; Mishra, Brahmeshwar

2018-03-01

The objective of the study was to develop interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) of capecitabine (CAP) using natural polymers locust bean gum (LBG) and sodium alginate (NaAlg). The IPN microbeads were optimized by Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to provide anticipated particle size with good drug entrapment efficiency. The comparative dissolution profile of IPN microbeads of CAP with the marketed preparation proved an excellent sustained drug delivery vehicle. Ionotropic gelation method utilizing metal ion calcium (Ca 2+ ) as a cross-linker was used to prepare IPN microbeads. The optimization study was done by response surface methodology based Box-Behnken Design. The effect of the factors on the responses of optimized batch was exhibited through response surface and contour plots. The optimized batch was analyzed for particle size, % drug entrapment, pharmacokinetic study, in vitro drug release study and further characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM. To study the water uptake capacity and hydrodynamic activity of the polymers, swelling studies and viscosity measurement were performed, respectively. The particle size and % drug entrapment of the optimized batch was 494.37 ± 1.4 µm and 81.39 ± 2.9%, respectively, closer to the value predicted by Minitab 17 software. The in vitro drug release study showed sustained release of 92% for 12 h and followed anomalous drug release pattern. The derived pharmacokinetic parameters of optimized batch showed improved results than pure CAP. Thus, the formed IPN microbeads of CAP proved to be an effective extended drug delivery vehicle for the water soluble antineoplastic drug.

21 CFR 888.3350 - Hip joint metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Hip joint metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented... HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES ORTHOPEDIC DEVICES Prosthetic Devices § 888.3350 Hip joint metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis. (a) Identification. A hip joint metal/polymer semi...

Catalytic molecularly imprinted polymer membranes: development of the biomimetic sensor for phenols detection.

Science.gov (United States)

Sergeyeva, T A; Slinchenko, O A; Gorbach, L A; Matyushov, V F; Brovko, O O; Piletsky, S A; Sergeeva, L M; Elska, G V

2010-02-05

Portable biomimetic sensor devices for the express control of phenols content in water were developed. The synthetic binding sites mimicking active site of the enzyme tyrosinase were formed in the structure of free-standing molecularly imprinted polymer membranes. Molecularly imprinted polymer membranes with the catalytic activity were obtained by co-polymerization of the complex Cu(II)-catechol-urocanic acid ethyl ester with (tri)ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate, and oligourethaneacrylate. Addition of the elastic component oligourethaneacrylate provided formation of the highly cross-linked polymer with the catalytic activity in a form of thin, flexible, and mechanically stable membrane. High accessibility of the artificial catalytic sites for the interaction with the analyzed phenol molecules was achieved due to addition of linear polymer (polyethyleneglycol Mw 20,000) to the initial monomer mixture before the polymerization. As a result, typical semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) were formed. The cross-linked component of the semi-IPN was represented by the highly cross-linked catalytic molecularly imprinted polymer, while the linear one was represented by polyethyleneglycol Mw 20,000. Extraction of the linear polymer from the fully formed semi-IPN resulted in formation of large pores in the membranes' structure. Concentration of phenols in the analyzed samples was detected using universal portable device oxymeter with the oxygen electrode in a close contact with the catalytic molecularly imprinted polymer membrane as a transducer. The detection limit of phenols detection using the developed sensor system based on polymers-biomimics with the optimized composition comprised 0.063 mM, while the linear range of the sensor comprised 0.063-1 mM. The working characteristics of the portable sensor devices were investigated. Storage stability of sensor systems at room temperature comprised 12 months (87%). As compared to traditional methods of phenols

21 CFR 888.3110 - Ankle joint metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Ankle joint metal/polymer semi-constrained... Ankle joint metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis. (a) Identification. An ankle joint metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis is a device intended to be implanted to replace an ankle...

Swelling and Shrinking Properties of Thermo-Responsive Polymeric Ionic Liquid Hydrogels with Embedded Linear pNIPAAM

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Simon Gallagher

2014-03-01

Full Text Available In this study, varying concentrations of linear pNIPAAM have been incorporated for the first time into a thermo-responsive polymeric ionic liquid (PIL hydrogel, namely tributyl-hexyl phosphonium 3-sulfopropylacrylate (P-SPA, to produce semi-interpenetrating polymer networks. The thermal properties of the resulting hydrogels have been investigated along with their thermo-induced shrinking and reswelling capabilities. The semi-interpenetrating networks (IPN hydrogels were found to have improved shrinking and reswelling properties compared with their PIL counterpart. At elevated temperatures (50–80 °C, it was found that the semi-IPN with the highest concentration of hydrophobic pNIPAAM exhibited the highest shrinking percentage of ~40% compared to the conventional P-SPA, (27%. This trend was also found to occur for the reswelling measurements, with semi-IPN hydrogels producing the highest reswelling percentage of ~67%, with respect to its contracted state. This was attributed to an increase in water affinity due to the presence of hydrophilic pNIPAAM. Moreover, the presence of linear pNIPAAM in the polymer matrix leads to improved shrinking and reswelling response compared to the equivalent PIL.

Thermoresponsive Polymers for Biomedical Applications

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Theoni K. Georgiou

2011-08-01

Full Text Available Thermoresponsive polymers are a class of “smart” materials that have the ability to respond to a change in temperature; a property that makes them useful materials in a wide range of applications and consequently attracts much scientific interest. This review focuses mainly on the studies published over the last 10 years on the synthesis and use of thermoresponsive polymers for biomedical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering and gene delivery. A summary of the main applications is given following the different studies on thermoresponsive polymers which are categorized based on their 3-dimensional structure; hydrogels, interpenetrating networks, micelles, crosslinked micelles, polymersomes, films and particles.

21 CFR 888.3530 - Knee joint femorotibial metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Knee joint femorotibial metal/polymer semi... § 888.3530 Knee joint femorotibial metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis. (a) Identification. A knee joint femorotibial metal/polymer semi-constrained cemented prosthesis is a device intended...

21 CFR 888.3540 - Knee joint patellofemoral polymer/metal semi-constrained cemented prosthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Knee joint patellofemoral polymer/metal semi... § 888.3540 Knee joint patellofemoral polymer/metal semi-constrained cemented prosthesis. (a) Identification. A knee joint patellofemoral polymer/metal semi-constrained cemented prosthesis is a two-part...

Semi-flexible polymers near interfaces : equilibrium aspects and adsorption kinetics

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Eijk, van M.

1998-01-01

The first chapter is about semi-flexible polymers at a liquid-liquid interface: self-consistent-field calculations. The adsorption of semi-flexible polymers at a liquid-liquid interface largely differs from that at a solid surface. The width of the interface is an additional length scale in

Robust solid polymer electrolyte for conducting IPN actuators

Science.gov (United States)

Festin, Nicolas; Maziz, Ali; Plesse, Cédric; Teyssié, Dominique; Chevrot, Claude; Vidal, Frédéric

2013-10-01

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) as first component and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as second component were synthesized and used as a solid polymer electrolyte film in the design of a mechanically robust conducting IPN actuator. IPN mechanical properties and morphologies were mainly investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and transmission electron microscopy. For 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide (EMITFSI) swollen IPNs, conductivity values are close to 1 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 25 ° C. Conducting IPN actuators have been synthesized by chemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) within the PEO/NBR IPN. A pseudo-trilayer configuration has been obtained with PEO/NBR IPN sandwiched between two interpenetrated PEDOT electrodes. The robust conducting IPN actuators showed a free strain of 2.4% and a blocking force of 30 mN for a low applied potential of ±2 V.

Electroless plating of PVC plastic through new surface modification method applying a semi-IPN hydrogel film

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, Ming-Qiu; Yan, Jun; Du, Shi-Guo; Li, Hong-Guang

2013-01-01

A novel palladium-free surface activation process for electroless nickel plating was developed. This method applied a semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network (semi-IPN) hydrogel film to modify the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) surface by chemical bonds. The activation process involved the formation of semi-IPN hydrogel film on the PVC surface and the immobilization of catalyst for electroless plating linking to the pretreated substrate via N-Ni chemical bond. The hydrogel layer was used as the chemisorption sites for nickel ions, and the catalyst could initiate the subsequent electroless nickel plating onto the PVC surface. Finally, a Ni–P layer was deposited on the nickel-activated PVC substrate by electroless plating technique. The composition and morphology of nickel-plated PVC foils were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of SEM and XRD show that a compact and continuous Ni–P layer with amorphous nickel phase is formed on the PVC surface. EDS shows that the content of the nickel and the phosphorus in the deposits is 89.4 wt.% and 10.6 wt.%, respectively.

Electroless plating of PVC plastic through new surface modification method applying a semi-IPN hydrogel film

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Ming-Qiu, E-mail: mqwang1514@163.com; Yan, Jun; Du, Shi-Guo; Li, Hong-Guang

2013-07-15

A novel palladium-free surface activation process for electroless nickel plating was developed. This method applied a semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network (semi-IPN) hydrogel film to modify the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) surface by chemical bonds. The activation process involved the formation of semi-IPN hydrogel film on the PVC surface and the immobilization of catalyst for electroless plating linking to the pretreated substrate via N-Ni chemical bond. The hydrogel layer was used as the chemisorption sites for nickel ions, and the catalyst could initiate the subsequent electroless nickel plating onto the PVC surface. Finally, a Ni–P layer was deposited on the nickel-activated PVC substrate by electroless plating technique. The composition and morphology of nickel-plated PVC foils were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of SEM and XRD show that a compact and continuous Ni–P layer with amorphous nickel phase is formed on the PVC surface. EDS shows that the content of the nickel and the phosphorus in the deposits is 89.4 wt.% and 10.6 wt.%, respectively.

Electroless plating of PVC plastic through new surface modification method applying a semi-IPN hydrogel film

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Ming-Qiu; Yan, Jun; Du, Shi-Guo; Li, Hong-Guang

2013-07-01

A novel palladium-free surface activation process for electroless nickel plating was developed. This method applied a semi-Interpenetrating Polymer Network (semi-IPN) hydrogel film to modify the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) surface by chemical bonds. The activation process involved the formation of semi-IPN hydrogel film on the PVC surface and the immobilization of catalyst for electroless plating linking to the pretreated substrate via Nsbnd Ni chemical bond. The hydrogel layer was used as the chemisorption sites for nickel ions, and the catalyst could initiate the subsequent electroless nickel plating onto the PVC surface. Finally, a Ni-P layer was deposited on the nickel-activated PVC substrate by electroless plating technique. The composition and morphology of nickel-plated PVC foils were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of SEM and XRD show that a compact and continuous Ni-P layer with amorphous nickel phase is formed on the PVC surface. EDS shows that the content of the nickel and the phosphorus in the deposits is 89.4 wt.% and 10.6 wt.%, respectively.

New 3-D coordination polymers based on semi-rigid V-shape tetracarboxylates

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Huang, Jing-Jing; Xu, Wei; Wang, Yan-Ning; Yu, Jie-Hui; Zhang, Ping; Xu, Ji-Qing

2015-01-01

Under the hydrothermal conditions, the reactions of transition-metal salts, tetracarboxylic acids and N,N′-donor ligands yielded three new coordination polymers as [Cu 4 (fph) 2 (bpe) 3 (H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O (fph=4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalate, bpe=1,2-bis(pyridyl)ethylene) 1, [Co 2 (fph)(bpa) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·3H 2 O (bpa=1,2-bis(pyridyl)ethylane) 2, and [Ni(H 2 O)(H 2 oph)(bpa)] (oph=4,4′-oxydiphthalate) 3. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis revealed that the title three compounds all possess the three-dimensional (3-D) network structures. For compound 1, the fph molecules first link the Cu 2+ ions into a two-dimensional (2-D) wave-like layer with a (4,4) topology. The bpe molecules act as the second linkers, extending the 2-D layers into a 3-D network. For compound 2, the fph molecules still serve as the first connectors, linking the Co 2+ ions into a one-dimensional (1-D) tube-like chain. Then the bpa molecules propagate the chains into a 3-D (4,4,4)-connected network. In the formation of the 3-D network of compound 3, the oph molecule does not play a role. The bpa molecules as well as the water molecules act as a mixed bridge. Only a kind of 4-connected metal node is observed in compound 3. The magnetic properties of compounds 1–3 were investigated and all exhibit the predominant antiferromegnetic magnetic behaviors. - Graphical abstract: Structures of three semi-rigid V-shape tetracarboxylate-based coordination polymers were reported, and their magnetic properties were investigated. - Highlights: • Structures of three tetracarboxylate-based coordination polymers were reported. • Role of organic bases in metal–tetracarboxylate compounds was discussed. • Characters of V-shape and semi-rigidity for tetracarboxylate play a key role in crystal growth. • Their magnetic properties were investigated

New 3-D coordination polymers based on semi-rigid V-shape tetracarboxylates

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Huang, Jing-Jing; Xu, Wei; Wang, Yan-Ning [College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Jiefang Road 2519, Changchun 130023, Jilin (China); State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Qianjin Road 2699, Changchun 130012, Jilin (China); Yu, Jie-Hui, E-mail: jhyu@jlu.edu.cn [College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Jiefang Road 2519, Changchun 130023, Jilin (China); State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Qianjin Road 2699, Changchun 130012, Jilin (China); Zhang, Ping, E-mail: zhangping@jlu.edu.cn [College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Jiefang Road 2519, Changchun 130023, Jilin (China); Xu, Ji-Qing [College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Jiefang Road 2519, Changchun 130023, Jilin (China); State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, Jilin University, Qianjin Road 2699, Changchun 130012, Jilin (China)

2015-03-15

Under the hydrothermal conditions, the reactions of transition-metal salts, tetracarboxylic acids and N,N′-donor ligands yielded three new coordination polymers as [Cu{sub 4}(fph){sub 2}(bpe){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]·2H{sub 2}O (fph=4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalate, bpe=1,2-bis(pyridyl)ethylene) 1, [Co{sub 2}(fph)(bpa){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]·3H{sub 2}O (bpa=1,2-bis(pyridyl)ethylane) 2, and [Ni(H{sub 2}O)(H{sub 2}oph)(bpa)] (oph=4,4′-oxydiphthalate) 3. X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis revealed that the title three compounds all possess the three-dimensional (3-D) network structures. For compound 1, the fph molecules first link the Cu{sup 2+} ions into a two-dimensional (2-D) wave-like layer with a (4,4) topology. The bpe molecules act as the second linkers, extending the 2-D layers into a 3-D network. For compound 2, the fph molecules still serve as the first connectors, linking the Co{sup 2+} ions into a one-dimensional (1-D) tube-like chain. Then the bpa molecules propagate the chains into a 3-D (4,4,4)-connected network. In the formation of the 3-D network of compound 3, the oph molecule does not play a role. The bpa molecules as well as the water molecules act as a mixed bridge. Only a kind of 4-connected metal node is observed in compound 3. The magnetic properties of compounds 1–3 were investigated and all exhibit the predominant antiferromegnetic magnetic behaviors. - Graphical abstract: Structures of three semi-rigid V-shape tetracarboxylate-based coordination polymers were reported, and their magnetic properties were investigated. - Highlights: • Structures of three tetracarboxylate-based coordination polymers were reported. • Role of organic bases in metal–tetracarboxylate compounds was discussed. • Characters of V-shape and semi-rigidity for tetracarboxylate play a key role in crystal growth. • Their magnetic properties were investigated.

Intégration d'actionneurs à base de polymères conducteurs électroniques pour des applications aux microsystèmes

OpenAIRE

Khaldi , Alexandre

2012-01-01

The aim of this work is the realization of new microactuators based on electronicconducting polymer (ECP) for a flapping wing nano-aerial vehicle.Two Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPNs) PEO/PTHF(polyethyleneoxide/polytetrahydrofurane) and PEO/NBR (polyethyleneoxide/NitrileButadiene Rubber) were synthesized and characterized. By controlling the synthesis of these IPNs, a phase co-continuity of the two networks could be obtained. This work has enabled the production of materials combining ...

Robust solid polymer electrolyte for conducting IPN actuators

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Festin, Nicolas; Maziz, Ali; Plesse, Cédric; Teyssié, Dominique; Chevrot, Claude; Vidal, Frédéric

2013-01-01

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) as first component and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as second component were synthesized and used as a solid polymer electrolyte film in the design of a mechanically robust conducting IPN actuator. IPN mechanical properties and morphologies were mainly investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and transmission electron microscopy. For 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide (EMITFSI) swollen IPNs, conductivity values are close to 1 × 10 −3 S cm −1 at 25 ° C. Conducting IPN actuators have been synthesized by chemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) within the PEO/NBR IPN. A pseudo-trilayer configuration has been obtained with PEO/NBR IPN sandwiched between two interpenetrated PEDOT electrodes. The robust conducting IPN actuators showed a free strain of 2.4% and a blocking force of 30 mN for a low applied potential of ±2 V. (paper)

Radiation synthesis and characterization of network structure of natural/synthetic double-network superabsorbent polymers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sen, M.; Hayrabolulu, H.

2011-01-01

Complete text of publication follows. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are moderately cross linked, 3-D, hydrophilic network polymers that can absorb and conserve considerable amounts of aqueous fluids even under certain heat or pressure. Because of the unique properties superior to conventional absorbents, SAPs have found potential application in many fields such as hygienic products, disposable diapers, horticulture, gel actuators, drug-delivery systems, as well as water-blocking tapes coal dewatering, water managing materials for the renewal of arid and desert environment, etc. In recent years, naturally available resources, such as polysaccharides have drawn considerable attention for the preparation of SAPs. Since the mechanical properties of polysaccharide based natural polymers are low, researchers have mostly focused on natural/synthetic polymer/monomer mixtures to obtain novel SAPs. The aim of this study is to synthesize and characterization of network structure of novel double-network (DN) hydrogels as a SAP. Hydrogels with high mechanical strength have been prepared by radiation induced polymerization and crosslink of acrylic acid sodium salt in the presence of natural polymer locust bean gum. Liquid retention capacities and absorbency under load (AUL) analysis of synthesized SAPs was performed at different temperatures in water and synthetic urine solution, in order to determine their SAP character. For the characterization of network structure of the semi-IPN hydrogels, the average molecular weight between cross links (M c ) were evaluated by using uniaxial compression and oscillatory dynamical mechanical analyses and the advantage and disadvantage of these two technique for the characterization of network structures were compared.

Exploration of the biomacromolecular interactions of an interpenetrating proteo-saccharide hydrogel network at the mucosal interface

CSIR Research Space (South Africa)

Mashingaidze, F

2013-09-01

Full Text Available EXPLORATION OF THE BIOMACROMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS OF AN INTERPENETRATING PROTEO-SACCHARIDE HYDROGEL NETWORK AT THE MUCOSAL INTERFACE 1Felix Mashingaidze, 1Yahya E. Choonara, 1Pradeep Kumar, 1Lisa C. du Toit, 2Vinesh Maharaj, 3Eckhart Buchmann, 4Valence M..., Department of Biosciences, Meiring Naud_e Road, Brummeria, Pretoria, South Africa 3University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa 4St. John’s...

EFFICIENT POLYMER PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES BASED ON POLYMER D-A BLENDS

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

Xian-yu Deng; Li-ping Zheng; Yue-qi Mo; Gang Yu; Wei Yang; Wen-hua Weng; Yong Cao

2001-01-01

Recent work demonstrated that efficient solar-energy conversion could be achieved in polymer photovoltaic cells (PVCs) based on interpenetrating bi-continuous networks[1,2]. In this paper we present a comprehensive study on improving energy conversion efficiencies of PVCs based on composite films of MEHPPV and fullerene derivatives. Carrier collection efficiency of ca. 30% el/ph and energy conversion efficiency of 3.9% were achieved at 500 nm. At reverse bias of 15 V, the photosensitivity reached 0.8 A/W, corresponding to a quantum efficiency over 100% el/ph. These results suggest that high efficiency photoelectric conversion can be achieved in polymer devices with M-P-M structure. These devices are promising for practical applications such as plastic solar cells and plastic photodetectors.

Solution-Processed Donor-Acceptor Polymer Nanowire Network Semiconductors For High-Performance Field-Effect Transistors

Science.gov (United States)

Lei, Yanlian; Deng, Ping; Li, Jun; Lin, Ming; Zhu, Furong; Ng, Tsz-Wai; Lee, Chun-Sing; Ong, Beng S.

2016-01-01

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) represent a low-cost transistor technology for creating next-generation large-area, flexible and ultra-low-cost electronics. Conjugated electron donor-acceptor (D-A) polymers have surfaced as ideal channel semiconductor candidates for OFETs. However, high-molecular weight (MW) D-A polymer semiconductors, which offer high field-effect mobility, generally suffer from processing complications due to limited solubility. Conversely, the readily soluble, low-MW D-A polymers give low mobility. We report herein a facile solution process which transformed a lower-MW, low-mobility diketopyrrolopyrrole-dithienylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene (I) into a high crystalline order and high-mobility semiconductor for OFETs applications. The process involved solution fabrication of a channel semiconductor film from a lower-MW (I) and polystyrene blends. With the help of cooperative shifting motion of polystyrene chain segments, (I) readily self-assembled and crystallized out in the polystyrene matrix as an interpenetrating, nanowire semiconductor network, providing significantly enhanced mobility (over 8 cm2V−1s−1), on/off ratio (107), and other desirable field-effect properties that meet impactful OFET application requirements. PMID:27091315

Three new 5-fold interpenetrating diamondoid frameworks constructed by rigid diimidazole and dicarboxylate ligands

Science.gov (United States)

Huo, Jianqiang; Yan, Shuai; Li, Haiqiang; Yu, Donghui; Arulsamy, Navamoney

2018-03-01

A series of three-dimensional coordination polymers, namely, [Cd(BIMB)(SCA)]n (1), [M(BIMB)(trans-CHDC)]n (2, M = Cd2+; 3, M = Co2+), where BIMB = 1,4-di(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene, SCA2- = succinate dianion, CHDC2- = cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate dianion) are synthesized hydro/solvatothermal methods. The products are characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Both the dianion and BIMB bridge different pairs of the metal ions, the three complexes are polymeric and their three-dimensional topology feature a diamond-like metal-organic framework (MOF). Owing to the length of the two bridging ligands, moderate size voids are formed in the diamondoid networks. However, the voids are filled by mutual interpenetration of four independent equivalent frameworks in a 5-fold interpenetrating architecture, and there is no sufficient void volume available for any guest molecules. The phase purity and thermal stability of the compounds are verified by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) data. The solid-state fluorescence spectra for the 3d10 Cd2+ MOF's 1 and 2 reveal significant enhancement in their emission intensities in comparison to the non-metallated BIMB. The enhanced emission is attributed to perturbation of intra-ligand emission states due to Cd2+ coordination.

21 CFR 888.3358 - Hip joint metal/polymer/metal semi-constrained porous-coated uncemented prosthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Hip joint metal/polymer/metal semi-constrained... Devices § 888.3358 Hip joint metal/polymer/metal semi-constrained porous-coated uncemented prosthesis. (a) Identification. A hip joint metal/polymer/metal semi-constrained porous-coated uncemented prosthesis is a device...

A 12-Fold ThSi2 Interpenetrated Network Utilizing a Glycine-Based Pseudopeptidic Ligand

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Edward Loukopoulos

2018-01-01

Full Text Available We report the synthesis and characterization of a 3D Cu(II coordination polymer, [Cu3(L12(H2O8]·8H2O (1, with the use of a glycine-based tripodal pseudopeptidic ligand (H3L1 = N,N′,N″-tris(carboxymethyl-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide or trimesoyl-tris-glycine. This compound presents the first example of a 12-fold interpenetrated ThSi2 (ths net. We attempt to justify the unique topology of 1 through a systematic comparison of the synthetic parameters in all reported structures with H3L1 and similar tripodal pseudopeptidic ligands. We additionally explore the catalytic potential of 1 in the A3 coupling reaction for the synthesis of propargylamines. The compound acts as a very good heterogeneous catalyst with yields up to 99% and loadings as low as 3 mol %.

Synthesis of PVA Hydrogel for Prosthetic Discus Nucleus Pulposus: Formation of Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) PVA Hydrogel by Gamma Rays

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Darwis, Darmawan; Erizal; Lely Hardiningsih; Razzak, Mirzan T.

2004-01-01

Research on synthesis of IPN PVA hydrogel for using as prosthetic discus nucleus has been carried out. Base hydrogel network (network I) was made by reacting the solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) 10 - 15 % w/w with formaldehyde at 80 o C for several hours. Hydrogel network II (as IPN network) was then made by immersion of base hydrogel into polymer solution (PVP or PVA) until hydrogel swell to equilibrium volume. The hydrogel then irradiated using gamma rays at various doses. The results show that IPN PVA-PVP and IPN PVA-PVP hydrogels have higher compression strength compared to base hydrogel. IPN PVA-PVA hydrogel made by irradiating base hydrogel (immersed into polymer solution) with 25, 50 and 100 kGy have compression strength at 5 mm displacement 2.72; 2.83; and 3.25 kg/cm 2 respectively, While base hydrogel has compression strength of 1.75 kg/cm 2 . IPN PVA-PVP and PVA-PVA hydrogels made by irradiating base hydrogel with 100 kGy still retain high water content i.e. 72 and 74 % respectively. Beside that they show good re-absorption property after compression treatment that is hydrogel can return to the original shape after compressed to 12 mm displacement (80% of initial height on hydrogel) at relatively short time, less than 15 minutes. (author)

A membrane actuator based on an ionic polymer network and carbon nanotubes: the synergy of ionic transport and mechanical properties

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dai, Chi-An; Hsiao, Chih-Chun; Weng, Shih-Chun; Kao, An-Cheng; Liu, Chien-Pan; Tsai, Wei-Bor; Chen, Wen-Shiang; Liu, Wei-Ming; Shih, Wen-Pin; Ma, Chien-Ching

2009-01-01

There is a growing interest in the development of ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMC) as sensors and actuators for biomedical applications due to their large deformation under low driving voltage. In this study, we employed poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PVA/PAMPS) blend membranes as semi-interpenetrating polymer networks for ion exchange in IPMC construction. To improve the mechanical and electrical properties of the IPMC, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were added into PVA/PAMPS membranes. The actuator performance of the membranes was measured as a function of their water uptake, ion exchange capacity, ionic conductivity and the amount of MWNT in the membrane. The dispersion quality of the modified MWNT in the PVA/PAMPS membrane was measured using transmission electron microscopy. The cantilever-type IPMC actuator bends under applied voltage and its bending angle and the generative tip force were measured. Under an applied voltage, IPMC with ∼1 wt% MWNT showed the largest deflection and generated the largest blocking tip force compared with those of IPMC with other various amounts of MWNT. These results show that a small addition of MWNT can optimize the actuation performance of IPMC. The result indicates that IPMC with MWNT shows potential for use as biomimetic artificial muscle

Interpenetrated Uranyl-Organic Frameworks with bor and pts Topology: Structure, Spectroscopy, and Computation.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Chao; Chen, Fang-Yuan; Tian, Hong-Rui; Ai, Jing; Yang, Weiting; Pan, Qing-Jiang; Sun, Zhong-Ming

2017-11-20

Two novel three-dimensional interpenetrated uranyl-organic frameworks, (NH 4 ) 4 [(UO 2 ) 4 (L 1 ) 3 ]·6H 2 O (1) and [(UO 2 ) 2 (H 2 O) 2 L 2 ]·2H 2 O (2), where L 1 = tetrakis(3-carboxyphenyl)silicon and L 2 = tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)silicon, were synthesized by a combination of two isomeric tetrahedral silicon-centered ligands with 3-connected triangular [(UO 2 )(COO) 3 ] - and 4-connected dinuclear [(UO 2 ) 2 (COO) 4 ] units, respectively. Structural analyses indicate that 1 possesses a 2-fold interpenetrating anion bor network, while 2 exhibits a 3-fold interpenetrated 4,4-connected neutral network with pts topology. Both compounds were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and IR, UV-vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. A relativistic density functional theory (DFT) investigation on 10 model compounds of 1 and 2 shows good agreement of the structural parameters, stretching vibrational frequencies, and absorption with experimental results; the time-dependent DFT calculations unravel that low-energy absorption bands originate from ligand-to-uranium charge transfer.

Damage characterization for particles filled semi-crystalline polymer

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Lauro Franck

2015-01-01

Full Text Available Damage evolution and characterization in semi-crystalline polymer filled with particles under various loadings is still a challenge. A specific damage characterization method using Digital Image Correlation is proposed for a wide range of strain rates considering tensile tests with hydraulic jacks as well as Hopkinson's bars. This damage measurement is obtained by using and adapting the SEE method [1] which was developed to characterize the behaviour laws at constant strain rates of polymeric materials in dynamic. To validate the characterization process, various damage measurement techniques are used under quasi-static conditions before to apply the procedure in dynamic. So, the well-known damage characterization by loss of stiffness technique under quasi-static loading is applied to a polypropylene. In addition, an in-situ tensile test, carried out in a microtomograph, is used to observe the cavitation phenomenon in real time. A good correlation is obtained between all these techniques and consequently the proposed technique is supposed suitable for measuring the ductile damage observed in semi-crystalline polymers under dynamic loading. By applying it to the semi-crystalline polymer at moderate and high speed loadings, the damage evolution is measured and it is observed that the damage evolution is not strain rate dependent but the failure strain on the contrary is strain rate dependent.

Two Zn coordination polymers with meso-helical chains based on mononuclear or dinuclear cluster units

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Qin, Ling, E-mail: qinling@hfut.edu.cn [Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Processing, Xuancheng Campus, Hefei University of Technology, Xuancheng 242000, Anhui (China); Jiangsu Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Cleaning Materials (CEM), School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (China); State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing National Laboratory of Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093 (China); Qiao, Wen-Cheng; Zuo, Wei-Juan; Zeng, Si-Ying; Mei, Cao; Liu, Chang-Jiang [Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Processing, Xuancheng Campus, Hefei University of Technology, Xuancheng 242000, Anhui (China)

2016-07-15

Two zinc coordination polymers {[Zn_2(TPPBDA)(oba)_2]·DMF·1.5H_2O}{sub n} (1), {[Zn(TPPBDA)_1_/_2(tpdc)]·DMF}{sub n} (2) have been synthesized by zinc metal salt, nanosized tetradentate pyridine ligand with flexible or rigid V-shaped carboxylate co-ligands. These complexes were characterized by elemental analyses and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses. Compound 1 is a 2-fold interpenetrated 3D framework with [Zn{sub 2}(CO{sub 2}){sub 4}] clusters. Compound 2 can be defined as a five folded interpenetrating bbf topology with mononuclear Zn{sup 2+}. These mononuclear or dinuclear cluster units are linked by mix-ligands, resulting in various degrees of interpenetration. In addition, the photoluminescent properties for TPPBDA ligand under different state and coordination polymers have been investigated in detail. - Graphical abstract: Two zinc coordination polymers have been synthesized by zinc metal salt, nanosized tetradentate pyridine ligand with flexible or rigid V-shaped carboxylate co-ligands. Compound 1 is a 2-fold interpenetrated 3D framework with [Zn{sub 2}(CO{sub 2}){sub 4}] clusters. Compound 2 can be defined as a five folded interpenetrating bbf topology with mononuclear Zn{sup 2+}. In addition, the photoluminescent properties for TPPBDA ligand under different status and coordination polymers have been investigated in detail. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Two Zn coordination polymers based on mononuclear or dinuclear cluster units have been synthesized. • Compound 1 is a 2-fold interpenetrated 3D framework with [Zn{sub 2}(CO{sub 2}){sub 4}] clusters. • Compound 2 is a five folded interpenetrating bbf topology with mononuclear Zn{sup 2+}. • The photoluminescent properties for TPPBDA with different state and two coordination polymers have been investigated.

Micropatterning of a stretchable conductive polymer using inkjet printing and agarose stamping

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Hansen, Thomas Steen; Hassager, Ole; Larsen, Niels Bent

2007-01-01

A highly conducting stretchable polymer material has been patterned using additive inkjet printing and by subtractive agarose stamping of a deactivation agent (hypochlorite). The material consisted of elastomeric polyurethane combined in an interpenetrating network with a conductive polymer, poly(3....... Inkjet printing of the material was only possible if a short-chain polyurethane was used as elastomer to overcome strain hardening at the neck of the droplets produced for printing. Reproducible line widths down to 200 μm could be achieved by inkjet printing. Both methods were used to fabricate test...

Contribution of Charges in Polyvinyl Alcohol Networks to Marine Antifouling.

Science.gov (United States)

Yang, Wufang; Lin, Peng; Cheng, Daocang; Zhang, Longzhou; Wu, Yang; Liu, Yupeng; Pei, Xiaowei; Zhou, Feng

2017-05-31

Semi-interpenetrated polyvinyl alcohol polymer networks (SIPNs) were prepared by integrating various charged components into polyvinyl alcohol polymer. Contact angle measurement, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and tensile tests were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of the prepared SIPNs. To investigate the contribution of charges to marine antifouling, the adhesion behaviors of green algae Dunaliella tertiolecta and diatoms Navicula sp. in the laboratory and of the actual marine animals in field test were studied for biofouling assays. The results suggest that less algae accumulation densities are observed for neutral-, anionic-, and zwitterionic-component-integrated SIPNs. However, for the cationic SIPNs, despite the hydration shell induced by the ion-dipole interaction, the resistance to biofouling largely depends on the amount of cationic component because of the possible favorable electrostatic attraction between the cationic groups in SIPNs and the negatively charged algae. Considering that the preparation of novel nontoxic antifouling coating is a long-standing and cosmopolitan industrial challenge, the SIPNs may provide a useful reference for marine antifouling and some other relevant fields.

Directed walk models of adsorbing semi-flexible polymers subject to an elongational force

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Iliev, G K [Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne, Parkville (Australia); Orlandini, E [Dipartimento di Fisica, CNISM, Universita di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova (Italy); Whittington, S G [Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Canada)

2010-08-06

We consider several directed path models of semi-flexible polymers. In each model we associate an energy parameter for every pair of adjacent collinear steps, allowing for a model of a polymer with tunable stiffness. We introduce weightings for vertices or edges in a distinguished plane to model the interaction of a semi-flexible polymer with an impenetrable surface. We also investigate the desorption of such a polymer under the influence of an elongational force and study the order of the associated phase transitions. Using a simple low-temperature theory, we approximate and study the ground state behaviour of the models.

Potassium fulvate as co-interpenetrating agent during graft polymerization of acrylic acid from cellulose.

Science.gov (United States)

Ghazy, Mohamed B M; El-Hai, Farag Abd; Mohamed, Magdy F; Essawy, Hisham A

2016-10-01

Grafting polymerization of acrylic acid onto cellulose in presence of potassium fulvate (KF) as a co-interpenetrating agent results enhanced water sorption compared to materials prepared similarly in its absence. The insertion of potassium fulvate (KF) did not affect the grafting process and is thought to proceed in parallel to the graft polymerization via intensive polycondensation reactions of its function groups (-COOH and OH) with COOH of the monomer and OH groups of cellulose. The combination of graft copolymerization and polycondensation reactions is assumed to produce interpenetrating network structure. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) confirmed successful incorporation within the network structure which is an evidence for formation of interpenetrating network. The obtained structures showed homogeneous uniform surface as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained superabsorbent possessed high water absorbency 422 and 48.8g/g in distilled water and saline (0.9wt.% NaCl solution), respectively, and enhanced water retention even at elevated temperatures as revealed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This could be explained by the high content of hydrophilic groups. The new superabsorbents proved to be efficient devices for controlled release of fertilizers which expands their use in agricultural applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Highly water-absorbing silk yarn with interpenetrating network via in situ polymerization.

Science.gov (United States)

Lee, Ka I; Wang, Xiaowen; Guo, Xia; Yung, Ka-Fu; Fei, Bin

2017-02-01

Silk was modified via in situ polymerization of two monomers acrylamide and sodium acrylate by swelling in an effective LiBr dissolution system. Swelling of natural silks in LiBr solutions of low concentration was clearly observed under optical microscope, and their conformational changes were revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Dissolution tests and FTIR spectra of these modified silks suggested the presence of interpenetrating network of polyacrylamide and poly(sodium acrylate) in the silk yarns. These modified silks exhibited superior water absorption to that of raw silk and greatly improved mechanical properties in both dry and wet states. These novel modified silks also showed low cytotoxicity towards skin keratinocytes, having potential applications in biomedical textiles. This modification method by in situ polymerization after swelling in LiBr provides a new route to highly enhance the properties and performance of silk for various applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electroactive polymer gels based on epoxy resin

Science.gov (United States)

Samui, A. B.; Jayakumar, S.; Jayalakshmi, C. G.; Pandey, K.; Sivaraman, P.

2007-04-01

Five types of epoxy gels have been synthesized from common epoxy resins and hardeners. Fumed silica and nanoclay, respectively, were used as fillers and butyl methacrylate/acrylamide were used as monomer(s) for making interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) in three compositions. Swelling study, tensile property evaluation, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and electroactive property evaluation were done. The gels have sufficient mechanical strength and the time taken for bending to 20° was found to be 22 min for forward bias whereas it was just 12 min for reverse bias.

Time dependent mechanical modeling for polymers based on network theory

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Billon, Noëlle [MINES ParisTech, PSL-Research University, CEMEF – Centre de mise en forme des matériaux, CNRS UMR 7635, CS 10207 rue Claude Daunesse 06904 Sophia Antipolis Cedex (France)

2016-05-18

Despite of a lot of attempts during recent years, complex mechanical behaviour of polymers remains incompletely modelled, making industrial design of structures under complex, cyclic and hard loadings not totally reliable. The non linear and dissipative viscoelastic, viscoplastic behaviour of those materials impose to take into account non linear and combined effects of mechanical and thermal phenomena. In this view, a visco-hyperelastic, viscoplastic model, based on network description of the material has recently been developed and designed in a complete thermodynamic frame in order to take into account those main thermo-mechanical couplings. Also, a way to account for coupled effects of strain-rate and temperature was suggested. First experimental validations conducted in the 1D limit on amorphous rubbery like PMMA in isothermal conditions led to pretty goods results. In this paper a more complete formalism is presented and validated in the case of a semi crystalline polymer, a PA66 and a PET (either amorphous or semi crystalline) are used. Protocol for identification of constitutive parameters is described. It is concluded that this new approach should be the route to accurately model thermo-mechanical behaviour of polymers using a reduced number of parameters of some physical meaning.

Novel 3D porous semi-IPN hydrogel scaffolds of silk sericin and poly(N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide for dermal reconstruction

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

S. Ross

2017-09-01

Full Text Available In this work, a novel semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN hydrogel scaffold based on silk sericin (SS and poly(N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (PHEA was successfully fabricated via conventional free-radical polymerization. The porous structure of the scaffolds was introduced using a lyophilization technique and the effect of cross-linker (XL on morphology, gelation time and physical properties of hydrogel scaffold was first studied. The results show that using low cross-linker content (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 wt% XL produced flexible scaffolds and appropriate gelation times for fabricating the scaffold. Therefore, the polymerization system with a constant percentage of XL at 0.5 wt% was chosen to study further the effect of SS on the physical properties and cell culture of the scaffolds. It was observed that the hydrogel scaffold of PHEA without SS (PHEA/SS-0 had no cell proliferation, whereas hydrogel scaffolds with SS enhanced cell viability when compared to the positive control. The sample of PHEA/SS at 1.25 wt% of SS and 0.5 wt% of cross-linker was the most suitable for HFF-1 cells to migrate and cell proliferation due to possessing a connective porous structure, along with silk sericin. The results proved that this novel porous semi-IPN hydrogel has the potential to be used as dermal reconstruction scaffold.

Synthesis and properties of hemicelluloses-based semi-IPN hydrogels.

Science.gov (United States)

Peng, Feng; Guan, Ying; Zhang, Bing; Bian, Jing; Ren, Jun-Li; Yao, Chun-Li; Sun, Run-Cang

2014-04-01

Hemicelluloses were extracted from holocellulose of bamboo by alkaline treatment. The phosphorylated poly(vinyl alcohol) (P-PVA) samples with various substitution degrees were prepared through the esterification of PVA and phosphoric acid. A series of hydrogels of semi-interpenetrating polymeric networks (semi-IPN) composed of hemicelluloses-g-poly(acrylic acid) (HM-g-PAA) and the phosphorylated poly(vinyl alcohol) (P-PVA) were prepared by radical polymerization using potassium persulphate (KPS) as initiator. The HM-g-PAA networks were crosslinked by N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinking agent in the presence of linear P-PVA. FT-IR results confirmed that the hydrogels comprised a porous crosslink structure of P-PVA and HM with side chains that carried carboxylate and phosphorylate groups. SEM observations indicated that the incorporation of P-PVA induced highly porous structure, and P-PVA was uniformly dispersed in the polymeric network. The interior network structures of the semi-IPN matrix became more porous with increasing P-PVA. The TGA results showed that the thermo-decomposing temperature and thermal stability were increased effectively for intruding the chain of P-PVA. The maximum equilibrium swelling ratio of hydrogels in distilled water and 0.9 wt% sodium chloride solutions was up to 1085 g g(-1) and 87 g g(-1), respectively. The compressive strength increased with increasing the MBA/HM and P-PVA/HM ratios, and decreased with the increment of AA/HM ratio. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Unconventional ordering behavior of semi-flexible polymers in dense brushes under compression.

Science.gov (United States)

Milchev, Andrey; Binder, Kurt

2014-06-07

Using a coarse-grained bead-spring model for semi-flexible macromolecules which form a polymer brush, the structure and dynamics of the polymers were investigated, varying the chain stiffness and the grafting density. The anchoring conditions for the grafted chains were chosen such that their first bonds were oriented along the normal to the substrate plane. The compression of such a semi-flexible brush by a planar piston was observed to be a two-stage process: for a small compression the chains were shown to contract by "buckling" deformation whereas for a larger compression the chains exhibited a collective (almost uniform) bending deformation. Thus, the stiff polymer brush underwent a 2nd order phase transition of collective bond reorientation. The pressure, required to keep the stiff brush at a given degree of compression, was thereby significantly smaller than for an otherwise identical brush made of entirely flexible polymer chains! While both the brush height and the chain linear dimensions in the z-direction perpendicular to the substrate increased monotonically with an increase in the chain stiffness, the lateral (xy) chain linear dimensions exhibited a maximum at an intermediate chain stiffness. Increasing the grafting density led to a strong decrease of these lateral dimensions which is compatible with an exponential decay. Also the recovery kinetics after removal of the compressing piston were studied, and were found to follow a power-law/exponential decay with time. A simple mean-field theoretical consideration, accounting for the buckling/bending behavior of semi-flexible polymer brushes under compression was suggested.

Quantitative characterization of the formation of an interpenetrating phase composite in polystyrene from the percolation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kota, Arun K; Cipriano, Bani H; Powell, Dan; Raghavan, Srinivasa R; Bruck, Hugh A

2007-01-01

For the first time, an interpenetrating phase polymer nanocomposite formed by the percolation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in polystyrene (PS) has been quantitatively characterized through electrical conductivity measurements and melt rheology. Both sets of measurements, in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, indicate the presence of a continuous phase of percolated MWCNTs appearing at particle concentrations exceeding 2 vol% MWCNTs in PS. To quantify the amount of this continuous phase present in the PS/MWCNT composite, electrical conductivity data at various MWCNT concentrations, β, are correlated with a proposed degree of percolation, C-bar(β), developed using a conventional power-law formula with and without a percolation threshold. To quantify the properties of the interpenetrating phase polymer nanocomposite, the PS/MWCNT composite is treated as a combination of two phases: a continuous phase consisting of a pseudo-solid-like network of percolated MWCNTs, and a continuous PS phase reinforced by non-interacting MWCNTs. The proposed degree of percolation is used to quantify the distribution of MWCNTs among the phases, and is then used in a rule-of-mixtures formulation for the storage modulus, G'(β, C-bar(β), ω), and the loss modulus, G''(β, C-bar(β), ω), to quantify the properties of the continuous phase consisting of percolated MWCNTs and the continuous PS phase reinforced by non-interacting MWCNTs from the experimental melt rheology data. The properties of the continuous phase of percolated MWCNTs are indicative of a scaffold-like microstructure exhibiting an elastic behavior with a complex modulus of 360 kPa at lower frequencies and viscoplastic behavior with a complex viscosity of 6 kPa s rad -1 at higher frequencies, most likely due to a stick-slip friction mechanism at the interface of the percolated MWCNTs. Additional evidence of this microstructure was obtained via scanning electron microscopy. This research

3D printing of an interpenetrating network hydrogel material with tunable viscoelastic properties.

Science.gov (United States)

Bootsma, Katherine; Fitzgerald, Martha M; Free, Brandon; Dimbath, Elizabeth; Conjerti, Joe; Reese, Greg; Konkolewicz, Dominik; Berberich, Jason A; Sparks, Jessica L

2017-06-01

Interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel materials are recognized for their unique mechanical properties. While IPN elasticity and toughness properties have been explored in previous studies, the factors that impact the time-dependent stress relaxation behavior of IPN materials are not well understood. Time-dependent (i.e. viscoelastic) mechanical behavior is a critical design parameter in the development of materials for a variety of applications, such as medical simulation devices, flexible substrate materials, cellular mechanobiology substrates, or regenerative medicine applications. This study reports a novel technique for 3D printing alginate-polyacrylamide IPN gels with tunable elastic and viscoelastic properties. The viscoelastic stress relaxation behavior of the 3D printed alginate-polyacrylamide IPN hydrogels was influenced most strongly by varying the concentration of the acrylamide cross-linker (MBAA), while the elastic modulus was affected most by varying the concentration of total monomer material. The material properties of our 3D printed IPN constructs were consistent with those reported in the biomechanics literature for soft tissues such as skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, skin and subcutaneous tissue. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A model of cell wall expansion based on thermodynamics of polymer networks

Science.gov (United States)

Veytsman, B. A.; Cosgrove, D. J.

1998-01-01

A theory of cell wall extension is proposed. It is shown that macroscopic properties of cell walls can be explained through the microscopic properties of interpenetrating networks of cellulose and hemicellulose. The qualitative conclusions of the theory agree with the existing experimental data. The dependence of the cell wall yield threshold on the secretion of the wall components is discussed.

Simulation of Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Thomas Gruhn

2013-11-01

Full Text Available The structure and material properties of polymer networks can depend sensitively on changes in the environment. There is a great deal of progress in the development of stimuli-responsive hydrogels for applications like sensors, self-repairing materials or actuators. Biocompatible, smart hydrogels can be used for applications, such as controlled drug delivery and release, or for artificial muscles. Numerical studies have been performed on different length scales and levels of details. Macroscopic theories that describe the network systems with the help of continuous fields are suited to study effects like the stimuli-induced deformation of hydrogels on large scales. In this article, we discuss various macroscopic approaches and describe, in more detail, our phase field model, which allows the calculation of the hydrogel dynamics with the help of a free energy that considers physical and chemical impacts. On a mesoscopic level, polymer systems can be modeled with the help of the self-consistent field theory, which includes the interactions, connectivity, and the entropy of the polymer chains, and does not depend on constitutive equations. We present our recent extension of the method that allows the study of the formation of nano domains in reversibly crosslinked block copolymer networks. Molecular simulations of polymer networks allow the investigation of the behavior of specific systems on a microscopic scale. As an example for microscopic modeling of stimuli sensitive polymer networks, we present our Monte Carlo simulations of a filament network system with crosslinkers.

Drug delivery matrices based on scleroglucan/alginate/borax gels.

Science.gov (United States)

Matricardi, Pietro; Onorati, Ilenia; Coviello, Tommasina; Alhaique, Franco

2006-06-19

The aim of this work is to obtain a new drug delivery matrix, especially designed for protein delivery, based on biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, and to describe its main physico-chemical properties. A polysaccharide based semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) was built up, composed by sodium alginate chains interspersed into a scleroglucan/borax hydrogel network. Tablets were obtained by compression of the resulting freeze-dried hydrogel. The different release and physico-chemical properties possessed by the two starting polymers in various aqueous media were combined in the new matrix. In this work, description is given of the in vitro ability of the matrix to deliver in a controlled manner a protein, Myoglobin, in distilled water, simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid; the release, simulating a gastric passage, followed by an enteric delivery, was also carried out. Water uptake data, colorimetric experiments and scanning electron microscopy images are given for the characterization of this new solid dosage form; the importance of the borax presence is also discussed.

Time-dependent deformation of polymer network in polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (Conference Presentation)

Science.gov (United States)

Lee, Kyung Min; Tondiglia, Vincent P.; Bunning, Timothy J.; White, Timothy J.

2017-02-01

Recently, we reported direct current (DC) field controllable electro-optic (EO) responses of negative dielectric anisotropy polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs). A potential mechanism is: Ions in the liquid crystal mixtures are trapped in/on the polymer network during the fast photopolymerization process, and the movement of ions by the application of the DC field distorts polymer network toward the negative electrode, inducing pitch variation through the cell thickness, i.e., pitch compression on the negative electrode side and pitch expansion on positive electrode side. As the DC voltage is directly applied to a target voltage, charged polymer network is deformed and the reflection band is tuned. Interestingly, the polymer network deforms further (red shift of reflection band) with time when constantly applied DC voltage, illustrating DC field induced time dependent deformation of polymer network (creep-like behavior). This time dependent reflection band changes in PSCLCs are investigated by varying the several factors, such as type and concentration of photoinitiators, liquid crystal monomer content, and curing condition (UV intensity and curing time). In addition, simple linear viscoelastic spring-dashpot models, such as 2-parameter Kelvin and 3-parameter linear models, are used to investigate the time-dependent viscoelastic behaviors of polymer networks in PSCLC.

Micromechanical modeling of the elasto-viscoplastic bahavior of semi-crystalline polymers

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Dommelen, van J.A.W.; Parks, D.M.; Boyce, M.C.; Brekelmans, W.A.M.; Baaijens, F.P.T.

2003-01-01

A micromechanically-based constitutive model for the elasto-viscoplastic deformationand texture evolution of semi-crystalline polymers is developed. The modelidealizes the microstructure to consist of an aggregate of two-phase layered compositeinclusions. A new framework for the composite inclusion

Dielectric properties and conductivity of carbon nanofiber/semi-crystalline polymer composites

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sui, G.; Jana, S.; Zhong, W.H.; Fuqua, M.A.; Ulven, C.A.

2008-01-01

The properties of semi-crystalline polymer nanocomposites are affected by the nanofillers directly and indirectly, as two phases, i.e., crystalline and amorphous, exist in the polymer. The effects of nanofillers on the two phases could be competitive. The dielectric properties and conductivity of carbon nanofibers (CNF)/semi-crystalline polymer nanocomposites are studied in this paper. CNF/polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites are prepared in experiment by melt blending. The resulting morphology and crystalline structure are characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, wide angle X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The PP nanocomposite containing 5 wt.% CNF exhibits a surprisingly high dielectric constant under wide sweep frequencies attended by low dielectric loss. Its dielectric constant is >600 under lower frequency, and remains >200 at a frequency of 4000 Hz. The electrical and thermal conductivities of the nanocomposites are studied, and enhancements are seen with increased CNF content. Theoretical analyses on the physical properties are carried out by applying the existing models. Research results indicate that a common commercial plastic with good comprehensive performance, which exhibited the potential for applications in advanced electronics, was obtained by a simple industry benign technique

Preparation and characterization of BADCy/MMA semi-IPN%BADCy/MMA半互穿网络的制备及性能表征

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

祝保林

2012-01-01

The cyanate ester resin/PMMA（BADCy/MMA-SIPN） with semi-interpenetrating polymers network were prepared by adding methyl methacrylate（MMA） monomer（synchronous synthisis）or MMA prepolymer（asynchronous synthesis）into the melting cyanate ester resin（BADCy） and caused.The bulk polymerization occurred.The effects of MMA contents on the mechanical properties and thermal performance of the BADCy/MMA-SIPN were investigated by the mechanical testing,infrared and DSC analysis.The results showed that the mechanical properties and heat resistance of the cyanate ester resin system were greatly improved by the formation of interpenetrating network.The impact strength,flexural strength and glass transition temperature were increased by 97.8%,58.6%,and 65 ℃,respectively.%在加热熔融的氰酸酯树脂（BADCy）中加入甲基丙烯酸甲酯（MMA）单体（同步合成法）或MMA预聚体（异步合成法）并引发使其发生本体聚合,制备了具有半互穿聚合物网络结构的氰酸酯树脂/聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯（BADCy/MMA-SIPN）,通过力学性能测试,红外及DSC分析研究了MMA含量对体系力学性能和热性能的影响。结果表明,互穿网絡的形成使氰酸酯树脂体系的力学性能和耐热性能都有较大的提高,冲击强度、弯曲强度及玻璃化温度分别提高了97.8%、58.6%和65℃。

Statistical mechanics of polymer networks of any topology

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Duplantier, B.

1989-01-01

The statistical mechanics is considered of any polymer network with a prescribed topology, in dimension d, which was introduced previously. The basic direct renormalization theory of the associated continuum model is established. It has a very simple multiplicative structure in terms of the partition functions of the star polymers constituting the vertices of the network. A calculation is made to O(ε 2 ), where d = 4 -ε, of the basic critical dimensions σ L associated with any L=leg vertex (L ≥ 1). From this infinite series of critical exponents, any topology-dependent critical exponent can be derived. This is applied to the configuration exponent γ G of any network G to O(ε 2 ), including L-leg star polymers. The infinite sets of contact critical exponents θ between multiple points of polymers or between the cores of several star polymers are also deduced. As a particular case, the three exponents θ 0 , θ 1 , θ 2 calculated by des Cloizeaux by field-theoretic methods are recovered. The limiting exact logarithmic laws are derived at the upper critical dimension d = 4. The results are generalized to the series of topological exponents of polymer networks near a surface and of tricritical polymers at the Θ-point. Intersection properties of networks of random walks can be studied similarly. The above factorization theory of the partition function of any polymer network over its constituting L-vertices also applies to two dimensions, where it can be related to conformal invariance. The basic critical exponents σ L and thus any topological polymer exponents are then exactly known. Principal results published elsewhere are recalled

Semi-flexible polymer engendered aggregation/dispersion of fullerene (C60) nano-particles: An atomistic investigation

Science.gov (United States)

Kumar, Sunil; Pattanayek, Sudip K.

2018-06-01

Semi flexible polymer chain has been modeled by choosing various values of persistent length (stiffness). As the polymer chain stiffness increases, the shape of polymer chain changes from globule to extended cigar to toroid like structure during cooling from a high temperature. The aggregation of fullerene nano-particles is found to depend on the morphology of polymer chain. To maximize, the number of polymer bead-nanoparticle contacts, all nano-particle have positioned inside the polymer globule. To minimize, the energy penalty, due to bending of the polymer chain, all nano-particle have positioned on the surface of the polymer's cigar and toroid morphology.

Network approach towards understanding the crazing in glassy amorphous polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Venkatesan, Sudarkodi; Vivek-Ananth, R. P.; Sreejith, R. P.; Mangalapandi, Pattulingam; Hassanali, Ali A.; Samal, Areejit

2018-04-01

We have used molecular dynamics to simulate an amorphous glassy polymer with long chains to study the deformation mechanism of crazing and associated void statistics. The Van der Waals interactions and the entanglements between chains constituting the polymer play a crucial role in crazing. Thus, we have reconstructed two underlying weighted networks, namely, the Van der Waals network and the entanglement network from polymer configurations extracted from the molecular dynamics simulation. Subsequently, we have performed graph-theoretic analysis of the two reconstructed networks to reveal the role played by them in the crazing of polymers. Our analysis captured various stages of crazing through specific trends in the network measures for Van der Waals networks and entanglement networks. To further corroborate the effectiveness of network analysis in unraveling the underlying physics of crazing in polymers, we have contrasted the trends in network measures for Van der Waals networks and entanglement networks in the light of stress-strain behaviour and voids statistics during deformation. We find that the Van der Waals network plays a crucial role in craze initiation and growth. Although, the entanglement network was found to maintain its structure during craze initiation stage, it was found to progressively weaken and undergo dynamic changes during the hardening and failure stages of crazing phenomena. Our work demonstrates the utility of network theory in quantifying the underlying physics of polymer crazing and widens the scope of applications of network science to characterization of deformation mechanisms in diverse polymers.

Self-Assembly of Diblock Molecular Polymer Brushes in the Spherical Confinement of Nanoemulsion Droplets.

Science.gov (United States)

Steinhaus, Andrea; Pelras, Théophile; Chakroun, Ramzi; Gröschel, André H; Müllner, Markus

2018-05-02

Understanding the self-assembly behavior of polymers of various topologies is key to a reliable design of functional polymer materials. Self-assembly under confinement conditions emerges as a versatile avenue to design polymer particles with complex internal morphologies while simultaneously facilitating scale-up. However, only linear block copolymers have been studied to date, despite the increasing control over macromolecule composition and architecture available. This study extends the investigation of polymer self-assembly in confinement from regular diblock copolymers to diblock molecular polymer brushes (MPBs). Block-type MPBs with polystyrene (PS) and polylactide (PLA) compartments of different sizes are incorporated into surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water (chloroform/water) emulsions. The increasing confinement in the nanoemulsion droplets during solvent evaporation directs the MPBs to form solid nano/microparticles. Microscopy studies reveal an intricate internal particle structure, including interpenetrating networks and axially stacked lamellae of PS and PLA, depending on the PS/PLA ratio of the brushes. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration on Mechanical Properties of 3D Printing Non-Crystalline and Semi-Crystalline Polymers.

Science.gov (United States)

Li, Guiwei; Zhao, Ji; Wu, Wenzheng; Jiang, Jili; Wang, Bofan; Jiang, Hao; Fuh, Jerry Ying Hsi

2018-05-17

Fused deposition modeling 3D printing has become the most widely used additive manufacturing technology because of its low manufacturing cost and simple manufacturing process. However, the mechanical properties of the 3D printing parts are not satisfactory. Certain pressure and ultrasonic vibration were applied to 3D printed samples to study the effect on the mechanical properties of 3D printed non-crystalline and semi-crystalline polymers. The tensile strength of the semi-crystalline polymer polylactic acid was increased by 22.83% and the bending strength was increased by 49.05%, which were almost twice the percentage increase in the tensile strength and five times the percentage increase in the bending strength of the non-crystalline polymer acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with ultrasonic strengthening. The dynamic mechanical properties of the non-crystalline and semi-crystalline polymers were both improved after ultrasonic enhancement. Employing ultrasonic energy can significantly improve the mechanical properties of samples without modifying the 3D printed material or adjusting the forming process parameters.

Novel Shape-Memory Polymer with Two Transition Temperature Based on Two Different Memory Mechanism

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

Liu Guoqin; Ding Xiaobing; Cao Yiping; Zheng Zhaohui; Peng Yuxing

2004-01-01

As an important kind of intelligent materials, shape-memory materials have been received increasing attention on account of their interesting properties and potential applications in recent years. Particularly, the rise of shape-memory polymers by far surpasses well-known metallic shape-memory alloys in their shape-memory properties. The advantages of polymers compared to other materials are their easier availability and their wide range of mechanical and physical properties. The polymers designed to exhibit a shape-memory effect require two components on the molecular level: crosslinks to determine the permanent shape and switching segments with Ttrans to fix the temporary shape. Up to now almost all papers on shape-memory polymers introduce switching segments with the covalent linking method. On the other hand, only several cases concern non-covalent interaction. However, the research works mentioned above is based on a single Ttrans (i.e., Tm or Tg).Following our previous work, here, we first report a novel kind of polymer consisted of PMMA-PEG semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPN), which exhibiting independently two shape memory effects based on Tm and Tg, respectively. This result can also extend the shape memory polymer categories from one Ttrans to two Ttrans, and the combination of Tm and Tg give rise to an extremely excellent shape-memory effect.Two different shape memory behaviors of this material based on two transition temperatures were evaluated by bending test as follows: a straight strip of the specimen was folded at a temperature above Ttrans and kept in this shape. The so-deformed sample was cooled down to a temperature Tlow＜ Ttrans and the deforming stress were released. When the sample was heated up to the measuring temperature Thigh ＞ Ttrans, it recovered its initial shape. The deformation angle θ f varied as a function of time and the ratio of the recovery was defined as θ f /180. The PMMA-PEG polymer behaved as a hard plastic

Synthesis and Characterization of pH and Thermo Dual-Responsive Hydrogels with a Semi-IPN Structure Based on N-Isopropylacrylamide and Itaconamic Acid.

Science.gov (United States)

Rwei, Syang-Peng; Tuan, Huynh Nguyen Anh; Chiang, Whe-Yi; Way, Tun-Fun

2018-04-28

A series of semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels were synthesized and investigated in this study. Linear copolymer poly( N -isopropylacrylamide-co-itaconamic acid) p(NIPAM-co-IAM), which is formed by copolymerization of N -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and itaconamic acid (IAM, 4-amino-2-ethylene-4-oxobutanoic acid), was introduced into a solution of NIPAM to form a series of pH and thermo dual-responsive p(NIPAM-co-IAM)/pNIPAM semi-IPN hydrogels by free radical polymerization. The structural, morphological, chemical, and physical properties of the linear copolymer and semi-IPN hydrogels were investigated. The semi-IPN hydrogel showed high thermal stability according to thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA). Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) images showed that the pore size was in the range of 119~297 µm and could be controlled by the addition ratio of the linear copolymer in the semi-IPN structure. The addition of linear copolymer increased the fracture strain from 57.5 ± 2.9% to 91.1 ± 4.9% depending on the added amount, while the compressive modulus decreased as the addition increased. Moreover, the pH and thermo dual-responsive properties were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and monitoring the swelling behavior of the hydrogels. In deionized (DI) water, the equilibrium swelling ratio of the hydrogels decreased as the temperature increased from 20 °C to 50 °C, while it varied in various pH buffer solutions. In addition, the swelling and deswelling rates of the hydrogels also significantly increased. The results indicate that the novel pH-thermo dual-responsive semi-IPN hydrogels were synthesized successfully and may be a potential material for biomedical, drug delivery, or absorption application.

Flory-Stockmayer analysis on reprocessable polymer networks

Science.gov (United States)

Li, Lingqiao; Chen, Xi; Jin, Kailong; Torkelson, John

Reprocessable polymer networks can undergo structure rearrangement through dynamic chemistries under proper conditions, making them a promising candidate for recyclable crosslinked materials, e.g. tires. This research field has been focusing on various chemistries. However, there has been lacking of an essential physical theory explaining the relationship between abundancy of dynamic linkages and reprocessability. Based on the classical Flory-Stockmayer analysis on network gelation, we developed a similar analysis on reprocessable polymer networks to quantitatively predict the critical condition for reprocessability. Our theory indicates that it is unnecessary for all bonds to be dynamic to make the resulting network reprocessable. As long as there is no percolated permanent network in the system, the material can fully rearrange. To experimentally validate our theory, we used a thiol-epoxy network model system with various dynamic linkage compositions. The stress relaxation behavior of resulting materials supports our theoretical prediction: only 50 % of linkages between crosslinks need to be dynamic for a tri-arm network to be reprocessable. Therefore, this analysis provides the first fundamental theoretical platform for designing and evaluating reprocessable polymer networks. We thank McCormick Research Catalyst Award Fund and ISEN cluster fellowship (L. L.) for funding support.

Polymer-Cement Composites Containing Waste Perlite Powder

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Paweł Łukowski

2016-10-01

Full Text Available Polymer-cement composites (PCCs are materials in which the polymer and mineral binder create an interpenetrating network and co-operate, significantly improving the performance of the material. On the other hand, the need for the utilization of waste materials is a demand of sustainable construction. Various mineral powders, such as fly ash or blast-furnace slag, are successfully used for the production of cement and concrete. This paper deals with the use of perlite powder, which is a burdensome waste from the process of thermal expansion of the raw perlite, as a component of PCCs. The results of the testing of the mechanical properties of the composite and some microscopic observations are presented, indicating that there is a possibility to rationally and efficiently utilize waste perlite powder as a component of the PCC. This would lead to creating a new type of building material that successfully meets the requirements of sustainable construction.

Vapor-phase deposition of regioregular and oriented poly(3-hexylthiophene) structures and novel nanostructured composites of interpenetrating poly(3-hexylthiophene) and polyaniline exhibiting full-color wavelength (400-1000 nm) photoluminescence

Science.gov (United States)

Biswas, A.; Bayer, I. S.; Karulkar, P. C.; Tripathi, A.; Avasthi, D. K.

2007-10-01

A promising solvent-free technique of electron-beam-assisted vapor-phase codeposition method is presented which allows uniform blending of different conjugated and nonconjugated polymers at the nanoscale. The technique allows direct incorporation of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer with different structural orientations into conventional and semiconducting polymers without fractionation or degradation of P3HT while maintaining the nanoscale morphology of deposited organic films. The results of fabricated novel nanostructured organic composites (˜100-200nm) comprising regioregular and oriented P3HT and different conjugated and nonconjugated polymers including selective assembly of P3HT nanonodules into a copolymer template are presented. We show a typical example of blending of P3HT and polyaniline (PANI) that formed a unique nanoscale morphology comprising interpenetrating networks of different shapes and sizes of nanospherulites (˜100nm) of P3HT in PANI. The so fabricated nanocomposites (˜200nm) exhibited remarkable broadband photoluminescence features covering the entire blue, green, and red wavelength regions between 400 and 1000nm. Such organic nanocomposites might be useful for flexible full-color screen flat panel displays and organic white-light solid-state lighting applications.

Recent Approaches to Controlling the Nanoscale Morphology of Polymer-Based Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Abdulra'uf Lukman Bola

2013-11-01

Full Text Available The need for clean, inexpensive and renewable energy has increasingly turned research attention towards polymer photovoltaic cells. However, the performance efficiency of these devices is still low in comparison with silicon-based devices. The recent introduction of new materials and processing techniques has resulted in a remarkable increase in power-conversion efficiency, with a value above 10%. Controlling the interpenetrating network morphology is a key factor in obtaining devices with improved performance. This review focuses on the influence of controlled nanoscale morphology on the overall performance of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ photovoltaic cells. Strategies such as the use of solvents, solvent annealing, polymer nanowires (NWs, and donor–acceptor (D–A blend ratios employed to control the active-layer morphologies are all discussed.

Simulation of the infiltration process of a ceramic open-pore body with a metal alloy in semi-solid state to design the manufacturing of interpenetrating phase composites

Science.gov (United States)

Schomer, Laura; Liewald, Mathias; Riedmüller, Kim Rouven

2018-05-01

Metal-ceramic Interpenetrating Phase Composites (IPC) belong to a special subcategory of composite materials and reveal enhanced properties compared to conventional composite materials. Currently, IPC are produced by infiltration of a ceramic open-pore body with liquid metal applying high pressure and I or high temperature to avoid residual porosity. However, these IPC are not able to gain their complete potential, because of structural damages and interface reactions occurring during the manufacturing process. Compared to this, the manufacturing of IPC using the semi-solid forming technology offers great perspectives due to relative low processing temperatures and reduced mechanical pressure. In this context, this paper is focusing on numerical investigations conducted by using the FLOW-3D software for gaining a deeper understanding of the infiltration of open-pore bodies with semi-solid materials. For flow simulation analysis, a geometric model and different porous media drag models have been used. They have been adjusted and compared to get a precise description of the infiltration process. Based on these fundamental numerical investigations, this paper also shows numerical investigations that were used for basically designing a semi-solid forming tool. Thereby, the development of the flow front and the pressure during the infiltration represent the basis of the evaluation. The use of an open and closed tool cavity combined with various geometries of the upper die shows different results relating to these evaluation arguments. Furthermore, different overflows were designed and its effects on the pressure at the end of the infiltration process were investigated. Thus, this paper provides a general guideline for a tool design for manufacturing of metal-ceramic IPC using semi-solid forming.

Highly Efficient Cooperative Catalysis by Co ^III (Porphyrin) Pairs in Interpenetrating Metal-Organic Frameworks

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lin, Zekai; Zhang, Zhi-Ming; Chen, Yu-Sheng; Lin, Wenbin (UC); (Xiamen)

2016-12-02

A series of porous twofold interpenetrated In-Co^III(porphyrin) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were constructed by in situ metalation of porphyrin bridging ligands and used as efficient cooperative catalysts for the hydration of terminal alkynes. The twofold interpenetrating structure brings adjacent Co^III(porphyrins) in the two networks parallel to each other with a distance of about 8.8 Å, an ideal distance for the simultaneous activation of both substrates in alkyne hydration reactions. As a result, the In-Co^III(porphyrin) MOFs exhibit much higher (up to 38 times) catalytic activity than either homogeneous catalysts or MOF controls with isolated Co^III(porphyrin) centers, thus highlighting the potential application of MOFs in cooperative catalysis.

Tribological Properties of AlSi12-Al₂O₃ Interpenetrating Composite Layers in Comparison with Unreinforced Matrix Alloy.

Science.gov (United States)

Dolata, Anna Janina

2017-09-06

Alumina-Aluminum composites with interpenetrating network structures are a new class of advanced materials with potentially better properties than composites reinforced by particles or fibers. Local casting reinforcement was proposed to take into account problems with the machinability of this type of materials and the shaping of the finished products. The centrifugal infiltration process fabricated composite castings in the form of locally reinforced shafts. The main objective of the research presented in this work was to compare the tribological properties (friction coefficient, wear resistance) of AlSi12/Al₂O₃ interpenetrating composite layers with unreinforced AlSi12 matrix areas. Profilometric tests enabled both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the wear trace that formed on investigated surfaces. It has been shown that interpenetrating composite layers are characterized by lower and more stable coefficients of friction (μ), as well as higher wear resistance than unreinforced matrix areas. At the present stage, the study confirmed that the tribological properties of the composite layers depend on the spatial structure of the ceramic reinforcement, and primarily the volume and size of alumina foam cells.

Hybrid Polymer-Network Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanical Response

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Sebastian Czarnecki

2016-03-01

Full Text Available Hybrid polymer-network gels built by both physical and covalent polymer crosslinking combine the advantages of both these crosslinking types: they exhibit high mechanical strength along with excellent fracture toughness and extensibility. If these materials are extensively deformed, their physical crosslinks can break such that strain energy is dissipated and irreversible fracturing is restricted to high strain only. This mechanism of energy dissipation is determined by the kinetics and thermodynamics of the physical crosslinking contribution. In this paper, we present a poly(ethylene glycol (PEG based material toolkit to control these contributions in a rational and custom fashion. We form well-defined covalent polymer-network gels with regularly distributed additional supramolecular mechanical fuse links, whose strength of connectivity can be tuned without affecting the primary polymer-network composition. This is possible because the supramolecular fuse links are based on terpyridine–metal complexation, such that the mere choice of the fuse-linking metal ion adjusts their kinetics and thermodynamics of complexation–decomplexation, which directly affects the mechanical properties of the hybrid gels. We use oscillatory shear rheology to demonstrate this rational control and enhancement of the mechanical properties of the hybrid gels. In addition, static light scattering reveals their highly regular and well-defined polymer-network structures. As a result of both, the present approach provides an easy and reliable concept for preparing hybrid polymer-network gels with rationally designed properties.

A green approach to prepare silver nanoparticles loaded gum acacia/poly(acrylate) hydrogels.

Science.gov (United States)

Bajpai, S K; Kumari, Mamta

2015-09-01

In this work, gum acacia (GA)/poly(sodium acrylate) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (Semi-IPN) have been fabricated via free radical initiated aqueous polymerization of monomer sodium acrylate (SA) in the presence of dissolved Gum acacia (GA), using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MB) as cross-linker and potassium persulphate (KPS) as initiator. The semi-IPNs, synthesized, were characterized by various techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The dynamic water uptake behavior of semi-IPNs was investigated and the data were interpreted by various kinetic models. The equilibrium swelling data were used to evaluate various network parameters. The semi-IPNs were used as template for the in situ preparation of silver nanoparticles using extract of Syzygium aromaticum (clove). The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, the antibacterial activity of GA/poly(SA)/silver nanocomposites was tested against E. coli. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Creep-induced anisotropy in covalent adaptable network polymers.

Science.gov (United States)

Hanzon, Drew W; He, Xu; Yang, Hua; Shi, Qian; Yu, Kai

2017-10-11

Anisotropic polymers with aligned macromolecule chains exhibit directional strengthening of mechanical and physical properties. However, manipulating the orientation of polymer chains in a fully cured thermoset is almost impossible due to its permanently crosslinked nature. In this paper, we demonstrate that rearrangeable networks with bond exchange reactions (BERs) can be utilized to tailor the anisotropic mechanical properties of thermosetting polymers. When a constant force is maintained at BER activated temperatures, the malleable thermoset creeps in the direction of stress, and macromolecule chains align themselves in the same direction. The aligned polymer chains result in an anisotropic network with a stiffer mechanical behavior in the direction of creep, while with a more compliant behavior in the transverse direction. The degree of network anisotropy is proportional to the amount of creep strain. A multi-length scale constitutive model is developed to study the creep-induced anisotropy of thermosetting polymers. The model connects the micro-scale BER kinetics, orientation of polymer chains, and directional mechanical properties of network polymers. Without any fitting parameters, it is able to predict the evolution of creep strain at different temperatures and anisotropic stress-strain behaviors of CANs after creep. Predictions on the chain orientation are verified by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Based on parametric studies, it is shown that the influences of creep time and temperature on the network anisotropy can be generalized into a single parameter, and the evolution of directional modulus follows an Arrhenius type time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP). The presented work provides a facile approach to transform isotropic thermosets into anisotropic ones using simple heating, and their directional properties can be readily tailored by the processing conditions.

Applications of Modulated Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry to Polymer Blends and Related Systems

Science.gov (United States)

Hourston, Douglas J.; Song, Mo

It has been shown in this chapter that the MTDSC technique is a very useful tool in the study of several aspects of polymer blends and related materials including structured latexes and interpenetrating polymer networks. It is important to note that the dC p/dT versus temperature signal may be used not only qualitatively as a sensitive detector of transitions impossible to spot by other thermal techniques such as conventional DSC and DMTA, but it may also be used to significant advantage in a quantitative way. It has been shown that it is sensitive to the diffuse interface between phases. Thus, from dC p/dT versus temperature signals, the weight fraction of the diffuse interface can be quantified. There are many situations where this will prove to be very valuable.

Selective removal of heavy metal ions by disulfide linked polymer networks

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ko, Dongah [Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej 113, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby (Denmark); Lee, Joo Sung [Graduate School of EEWS, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 (Korea, Republic of); Patel, Hasmukh A. [Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 (United States); Jakobsen, Mogens H. [Department of Micro and Nano technology, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads, 345B, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby (Denmark); Hwang, Yuhoon [Department of Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 232 Gongreung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811 (Korea, Republic of); Yavuz, Cafer T. [Graduate School of EEWS, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141 (Korea, Republic of); Hansen, Hans Chr. Bruun [Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C (Denmark); Andersen, Henrik R., E-mail: henrik@ndersen.net [Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej 113, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby (Denmark)

2017-06-15

Highlights: • Disulfide/thiol polymer networks are promising as sorbent for heavy metals. • Rapid sorption and high Langmuir affinity constant (a{sub L}) for stormwater treatment. • Selective sorption for copper, cadmium, and zinc in the presence of calcium. • Reusability likely due to structure stability of disulfide linked polymer networks. - Abstract: Heavy metal contaminated surface water is one of the oldest pollution problems, which is critical to ecosystems and human health. We devised disulfide linked polymer networks and employed as a sorbent for removing heavy metal ions from contaminated water. Although the polymer network material has a moderate surface area, it demonstrated cadmium removal efficiency equivalent to highly porous activated carbon while it showed 16 times faster sorption kinetics compared to activated carbon, owing to the high affinity of cadmium towards disulfide and thiol functionality in the polymer network. The metal sorption mechanism on polymer network was studied by sorption kinetics, effect of pH, and metal complexation. We observed that the metal ions–copper, cadmium, and zinc showed high binding affinity in polymer network, even in the presence of competing cations like calcium in water.

Self-Assembled Polymeric Ionic Liquid-Functionalized Cellulose Nano-crystals: Constructing 3D Ion-conducting Channels Within Ionic Liquid-based Composite Polymer Electrolytes.

Science.gov (United States)

Shi, Qing Xuan; Xia, Qing; Xiang, Xiao; Ye, Yun Sheng; Peng, Hai Yan; Xue, Zhi Gang; Xie, Xiao Lin; Mai, Yiu-Wing

2017-09-04

Composite polymeric and ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes are some of the most promising electrolyte systems for safer battery technology. Although much effort has been directed towards enhancing the transport properties of polymer electrolytes (PEs) through nanoscopic modification by incorporating nano-fillers, it is still difficult to construct ideal ion conducting networks. Here, a novel class of three-dimensional self-assembled polymeric ionic liquid (PIL)-functionalized cellulose nano-crystals (CNC) confining ILs in surface-grafted PIL polymer chains, able to form colloidal crystal polymer electrolytes (CCPE), is reported. The high-strength CNC nano-fibers, decorated with PIL polymer chains, can spontaneously form three-dimensional interpenetrating nano-network scaffolds capable of supporting electrolytes with continuously connected ion conducting networks with IL being concentrated in conducting domains. These new CCPE have exceptional ionic conductivities, low activation energies (close to bulk IL electrolyte with dissolved Li salt), high Li + transport numbers, low interface resistances and improved interface compatibilities. Furthermore, the CCPE displays good electrochemical properties and a good battery performance. This approach offers a route to leak-free, non-flammable and high ionic conductivity solid-state PE in energy conversion devices. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Selective removal of heavy metal ions by disulfide linked polymer networks

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Ko, Dongah; Sung Lee, Joo; Patel, Hasmukh A.

2017-01-01

Heavy metal contaminated surface water is one of the oldest pollution problems, which is critical to ecosystems and human health. We devised disulfide linked polymer networks and employed as a sorbent for removing heavy metal ions from contaminated water. Although the polymer network material has...... a moderate surface area, it demonstrated cadmium removal efficiency equivalent to highly porous activated carbon while it showed 16 times faster sorption kinetics compared to activated carbon, owing to the high affinity of cadmium towards disulfide and thiol functionality in the polymer network. The metal...... sorption mechanism on polymer network was studied by sorption kinetics, effect of pH, and metal complexation. We observed that the metal ions―copper, cadmium, and zinc showed high binding affinity in polymer network, even in the presence of competing cations like calcium in water....

Kinetic studies of uranyl ion adsorption on acrylonitrile (AN) / polyethylene glycol (PEG) interpenetrating networks (IPN)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aycik, G.A.; Gurellier, R.

2004-01-01

The kinetics of the adsorption of uranyl ions on amidoximated acrylonitrile (AN)/ polyethylene glycol (PEG) interpenetrating network (IPNs) from aqueous solutions was studied as a function of time and temperature. Adsorption analyses were performed for definite uranyl ion concentrations of 1x10 -2 M and at four different temperatures as 290K, 298K, 308K and 318K. Adsorption time was increased from zero to 48 hours. Adsorption capacities of uranyl ions by PEG/AN IPNS were determined by gamma spectrometer. The results indicate that adsorption capacity increases linearly with increasing temperature. The max adsorption capacity was found as 602 mgu/g IPN at 308K. Adsorption rate was evaluated from the curve plotted of adsorption capacity versus time, for each temperature. Rate constants for uranyl ions adsorption on amidoximated ipns were calculated for 290K, 298K, 308K and 318K at the solution concentration of 1x10 -2 M . The results showed that as the temperature increases the rate constant increases exponentially too. The mean activation energy of uranyl ions adsorption was found as 34.6 kJ/mole by using arrhenius equation. (author)

Polymer functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube composites and semi-fluorinated quaternary ammonium polymer colloids and coatings

Science.gov (United States)

Paul, Abhijit

Scope and Method of Study: Current study focused on understanding of "wetting" and "dewetting" phenomena between surfaces of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) which are lightly grafted with polymer chains by reversible-deactivation radical polymerization, when they are mixed with matrix chains of the same architecture as grafts. Effects of grafts to matrix chain lengths on SWCNT dispersion in matrix polymers were studied by measuring electrical conductivity, glass transition temperature, and storage and loss moduli of nanocomposites. Another area of work was to design semi-fluorinated copolymers with core-shell morphology by emulsion polymerization, study their catalytic activities for hydrolyses of Paraoxon, a toxic insecticide, in the forms of both colloidal dispersions and films, and to characterize the surfaces of the films by atomic force microscopy and by dynamic contact angle measurements. Findings and Conclusions: The glass transition temperature ( Tg) of polystyrene (PS) filled with SWCNT grafted with PS of different lengths increased from 99 to 109 °C at 6 wt% of SWCNT followed by a plateau. The heat capacity (DeltaCp ) at Tg continued to decrease only for the smallest chain length grafted PS nanocomposites. SWCNT/PS nanocomposites had low electrical conductivity and showed no percolation threshold due to the thick polymer coatings. A key finding was that the SWCNT surface can accommodate only a fixed numbers of styrene units. Similar results on change in Tg were obtained for SWCNT/PMMA nanocomposites when molecular weight of matrix (Mmatrix) ≥ molecular weight of grafts (Mgraft). No change in DeltaCp was observed for SWCNT/PMMA nanocomposites. "Wetting" to "dewetting" occurred Mmatrix/ Mgraft ≈ 1. For Mmatrix > Mgraft, electrical conductivity of nanocomposites reached the value of 10-9 S cm-1 at 1.0 wt% nanotube loading and had percolation threshold of electrical conductivity at ˜0.25 wt% SWCNT. Raman and UV-vis-NIR data confirmed that

Tuning mechanical performance of poly(ethylene glycol) and agarose interpenetrating network hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering.

Science.gov (United States)

Rennerfeldt, Deena A; Renth, Amanda N; Talata, Zsolt; Gehrke, Stevin H; Detamore, Michael S

2013-11-01

Hydrogels are attractive for tissue engineering applications due to their incredible versatility, but they can be limited in cartilage tissue engineering applications due to inadequate mechanical performance. In an effort to address this limitation, our team previously reported the drastic improvement in the mechanical performance of interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) and agarose relative to pure PEG-DA and agarose networks. The goal of the current study was specifically to determine the relative importance of PEG-DA concentration, agarose concentration, and PEG-DA molecular weight in controlling mechanical performance, swelling characteristics, and network parameters. IPNs consistently had compressive and shear moduli greater than the additive sum of either single network when compared to pure PEG-DA gels with a similar PEG-DA content. IPNs withstood a maximum stress of up to 4.0 MPa in unconfined compression, with increased PEG-DA molecular weight being the greatest contributing factor to improved failure properties. However, aside from failure properties, PEG-DA concentration was the most influential factor for the large majority of properties. Increasing the agarose and PEG-DA concentrations as well as the PEG-DA molecular weight of agarose/PEG-DA IPNs and pure PEG-DA gels improved moduli and maximum stresses by as much as an order of magnitude or greater compared to pure PEG-DA gels in our previous studies. Although the viability of encapsulated chondrocytes was not significantly affected by IPN formulation, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was significantly influenced, with a 12-fold increase over a three-week period in gels with a lower PEG-DA concentration. These results suggest that mechanical performance of IPNs may be tuned with partial but not complete independence from biological performance of encapsulated cells. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polymerization speed and diffractive experiments in polymer network LC test cells

Science.gov (United States)

Braun, Larissa; Gong, Zhen; Habibpourmoghadam, Atefeh; Schafforz, Samuel L.; Wolfram, Lukas; Lorenz, Alexander

2018-02-01

Polymer-network liquid crystals (LCs), where the response properties of a LC can be enhanced by the presence of a porous polymer network, are investigated. In the reported experiments, liquid crystals were doped with a small amount (situ generated polymer network, the electro-optic response properties of photo cured samples were enhanced. For example, their continuous phase modulation properties led to more localized responses in samples with interdigitated electrodes, which caused suppression of selected diffraction orders in the diffraction patterns recorded in polymer network LC samples. Moreover, capacitance changes were investigated during photopolymerization of a blue phase LC.

Advanced composite structural concepts and materials technologies for primary aircraft structures: Advanced material concepts

Science.gov (United States)

Lau, Kreisler S. Y.; Landis, Abraham L.; Chow, Andrea W.; Hamlin, Richard D.

1993-01-01

To achieve acceptable performance and long-term durability at elevated temperatures (350 to 600 F) for high-speed transport systems, further improvements of the high-performance matrix materials will be necessary to achieve very long-term (60,000-120,000 service hours) retention of mechanical properties and damage tolerance. This report emphasizes isoimide modification as a complementary technique to semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (SIPN's) to achieve greater processibility, better curing dynamics, and possibly enhanced thermo-mechanical properties in composites. A key result is the demonstration of enhanced processibility of isoimide-modified linear and thermo-setting polyimide systems.

Synthesis and characterization of the mixed ligand coordination polymer CPO-5

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kongshaug, K.O.; FjellvAg, Helmer

2003-01-01

The synthesis and crystal structures of a novel coordination polymer and its high-temperature variant are described. The as-synthesized material (CPO-5-as), of composition Zn(4,4'-bipyridine)(4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylate)·3H 2 O, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 (No. 2) with a=11.0197(2), b=14.2975(3), c=7.6586(1) A, α=95.9760(9) deg. , β=108.026(1) deg. , γ=91.373(1) deg. and V=1139.16(4) A 3 . CPO-5-as is composed of tetrahedral zinc centers that are connected by the organic linkers to give five independent, interpenetrating diamond networks. In the structure, there is additional space for channels that are filled with three water molecules. These water molecules can be removed, leading to an anhydrous variant at 130 o C. CPO-5-130, of composition Zn(4,4'-bipyridine)(4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylate), crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 (No. 2) with a=11.1844(6), b=14.0497(7), c=7.7198(3) A, α=96.917(2) deg. , β=109.527(2) deg. , γ=89.115(3) deg. and V=1134.6(1) A 3 . The structure of the five interpenetrating networks is virtually unchanged after the dehydration resulting in CPO-5-130 being a porous structure with an estimated free volume of 19.8%

A new three-dimensional bis(benzimidazole)-based cadmium(II) coordination polymer

Science.gov (United States)

Hao, Shao Yun; Hou, Suo Xia; Hao, Zeng Chuan; Cui, Guang Hua

2018-01-01

A new coordination polymer (CP), formulated as [Cd(L)(DCTP)]n (1) (L = 1,1‧-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(2-methylbenzimidazole), H2DCTP = 2,5-dichloroterephthalic acid), was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and the performance as luminescent probe was also investigated. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals CP 1 is a 3D 3-fold interpenetrated dia network with large well-defined pores. It is found that CP 1 revealed highly sensitive luminescence sensing for Fe3 + ions in acetonitrile solution with a high quenching efficiency of KSV = 2541.238 L·mol- 1 and a low detection limit of 3.2 μM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the photocatalytic efficiency of 1 for degradation of methylene blue could reach 82.8% after 135 min. Therefore, this coordination polymer could be viewed as multifunctional material for selectively sensing Fe3 + ions and effectively degrading dyes.

The casting and mechanism of formation of semi-permeable polymer membranes in a microgravity environment

Science.gov (United States)

Vera, I.

The National Electric Company of Venezuela, C.A.D.A.F.E., is sponsoring the development of this experiment which represents Venezuela's first scientific experiment in space. The apparatus for the automatic casting of polymer thin films will be contained in NASA's payload No. G-559 of the Get Away Special program for a future orbital space flight in the U.S. Space Shuttle. Semi-permeable polymer membranes have important applications in a variety of fields, such as medecine, energy, and pharmaceuticals, and in general fluid separation processes such as reverse osmosis, ultra-filtration, and electro-dialysis. The casting of semi-permeable membranes in space will help to identify the roles of convection in determining the strucutre of these membranes.

Study and modeling of heat transfer during the solidification of semi-crystalline polymers

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Le Goff, R.; Poutot, G.; Delaunay, D. [Laboratoire de Thermocinetique de l' ecole polytechnique de l' universite de Nantes, UMR CNRS 6607, rue Christian Pauc, BP 50609 44306 Nantes cedex 3 (France); Fulchiron, R.; Koscher, E. [Laboratoire des Materiaux Polymeres et des Biomateriaux, IMP/UMR CNRS 5627, Universite Claude Bernard, Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex (France)

2005-12-01

Semi-crystalline polymers are materials whose behavior during their cooling is difficult to model because of the strong coupling between the crystallization, heat transfer, pressure and shear. Thanks to two original apparatus we study solidification of such a polymer without shear. Firstly the comparison between experimental results and a numerical model will permit to validate crystallization kinetic for cooling rate reachable by DSC. The second experiment makes it possible to analyze solidification for high cooling rate, corresponding to some manufacturing processes. It appears that crystallization has an influence on the thermal contact resistance. (author)

Novel blends of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and polyurethane-silica hybrid networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

X. P. Wang

2012-07-01

Full Text Available Novel blends of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR and polyurethane-silica (PU-SiO2 hybrid networks have been prepared by melt blending. The PU-SiO2 hybrid networks were formed via the reaction of NCO groups of NCO-terminated PU prepolymer and OH groups of SiO2 in the absence of an external crosslinking agent (i.e. alcohols and amines during the curing process of NBR. Both in the neat PU-SiO2 system and the NBR/(PU-SiO2 system, the NCO-terminated PU prepolymer could be crosslinked by SiO2 to form PU-SiO2 hybrid networks. The effects of PU-SiO2 introduction into the NBR, on the properties of the resulting blends were studied. It was found that the vulcanization was activated by the incorporation of PU-SiO2. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM studies indicated that the interpenetration and entanglement structures between NBR and PU-SiO2 increased with increasing PU-SiO2 content and the quasi-interpenetrating polymer networks (quasi-IPN structures were formed when the PU-SiO2 was 50 wt% in the NBR/(PU-SiO2 systems. The microstructures formed in the blends led to good compatibility between NBR and PU-SiO2 and significantly improved the mechanical properties, abrasion resistance and flex-fatigue life of the blends.

PEGDA/PVdF/F127 gel type polymer electrolyte membranes for lithium secondary batteries

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Yan-Jie; Kim, Dukjoon [Department of Chemical Engineering, Polymer Technology Institute, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi 440-746 (Korea)

2007-03-30

A novel porous gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) membrane based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF), and polyethylene oxide-co-polypropylene oxide-co-polyethylene oxide (PEO-PPO-PEO, F127) was fabricated by a phase inversion technique. The PEGDA cross-linking oligomer could be randomly mixed with unraveled PVdF polymer chains to form the interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure. Several experimental techniques including infrared (IR) spectra, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiostat/galvanostat were employed to investigate the characteristics of the polymer membranes. PEGDA and F127 influenced the porous size and structure. The mechanical strength and flexibility of the membrane were controlled by its composition. The membrane with the composition of PEGDA/PVdF/F127 (0/4/4) showed the highest electrolyte uptake of 152.6% and the maximum ionic conductivity of 2.0 x 10{sup -3} S cm{sup -1} at room temperature. All GPEs prepared in this study were electrochemically stable up to 4.5 V. (author)

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Polymers as Adsorbents for Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Solutions: A Review

Science.gov (United States)

Samiey, Babak; Cheng, Chil-Hung; Wu, Jiangning

2014-01-01

Over the past decades, organic-inorganic hybrid polymers have been applied in different fields, including the adsorption of pollutants from wastewater and solid-state separations. In this review, firstly, these compounds are classified. These compounds are prepared by sol-gel method, self-assembly process (mesopores), assembling of nanobuilding blocks (e.g., layered or core-shell compounds) and as interpenetrating networks and hierarchically structures. Lastly, the adsorption characteristics of heavy metals of these materials, including different kinds of functional groups, selectivity of them for heavy metals, effect of pH and synthesis conditions on adsorption capacity, are studied. PMID:28788483

Semi-crystalline photovoltaic polymers with siloxane-terminated hybrid side-chains

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

Yuxiang Li; Seyeong Song; Song Yi Park; Jin Young Kim; Han Young Woo

2017-01-01

Three types of semi-cry stalline photovoltaic polymers were synthesized by incorporating a siloxane-terminated organic/inorganic hybrid side-chain and changing the number of fluorine substituents.A branch point away from a polymer main backbone in the siloxane-containing side-chains and the intra-and/or interchain noncovalent coulombic interactions enhance a chain planarity and facile interchain organization.The resulting polymers formed strongly agglomerated films with high roughness,suggesting strong intermolecular interactions.The optical band gap of ca.1.7 eV was measured for all polymers with a pronounced shoulder peak due to tight π-π stacking.With increasing the fluorine substituents,the frontier energy levels decreased and preferential face-on orientation was observed.The siloxane-terminated side-chains and fluorine substitution promoted the intermolecular packing,showing well resolved lamellar scatterings up to（300） for this series of polymers in the grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering measurements.The PPsiDTBT,PPsiDTFBT and PPsiDT2 FBT devices showed a power conversion efficiency of 3.16%,4.40%and 5.65%,respectively,by blending with PC71BM.Langevin-type bimolecular charge recombination was similar for three polymeric solar cells.The main loss in the photocurrent generation for PPsiDTBT:PC71BM was interpreted to originate from the trap assisted charge recombination by measuring light-intensity dependent short-circuit current density(JSC) and open-circuit voltage(VOc).Our results provide a new insight into the rational selection of solubilizing substituents for optimizing crystalline interchain packing with appropriate miscibility with PC71 BM for further optimizing polymer solar cells.

Semi-crystalline photovoltaic polymers with siloxane-terminated hybrid side-chains

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

Yuxiang Li; Seyeong Song; Song Yi Park; Jin Young Kim; Han Young Woo

2017-01-01

Three types of semi-crystalline photovoltaic polymers were synthesized by incorporating a siloxane-terminated organic/inorganic hybrid side-chain and changing the number of fluorine substituents.A branch point away from a polymer main backbone in the siloxane-containing side-chains and the intra-and/or interchain noncovalent coulombic interactions enhance a chain planarity and facile interchain organization.The resulting polymers formed strongly agglomerated films with high roughness,suggesting strong intermolecular interactions.The optical band gap of ca.1.7 eV was measured for all polymers with a pronounced shoulder peak due to tight π-π stacking.With increasing the fluorine substituents,the frontier energy levels decreased and preferential face-on orientation was observed.The siloxane-terminated side-chains and fluorine substitution promoted the intermolecular packing,showing well resolved lamellar scatterings up to (300) for this series of polymers in the grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering measurements.The PPsiDTBT,PPsiDTFBT and PPsiDT2FBT devices showed a power conversion efficiency of 3.16％,4.40％ and 5.65％,respectively,by blending with PC71BM.Langevin-type bimolecular charge recombination was similar for three polymeric solar cells.The main loss in the photocurrent generation for PPsiDTBT:PC71BM was interpreted to originate from the trap assisted charge recombination by measuring light-intensity dependent short-circuit current density (Jsc) and open-circuit voltage (Voc).Our results provide a new insight into the rational selection of solubilizing substituents for optimizing crystalline interchain packing with appropriate miscibility with PC71BM for further optimizing polymer solar cells.

Conducting Polymeric Hydrogel Electrolyte Based on Carboxymethylcellulose and Polyacrylamide/Polyaniline for Supercapacitor Applications

Science.gov (United States)

Suganya, N.; Jaisankar, V.; Sivakumar, E. K. T.

Conducting polymer hydrogels represent a unique class of materials that possess enormous application in flexible electronic devices. In the present work, conducting carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-co-polyacrylamide (PAAm)/polyaniline was synthesized by a two-step interpenetrating network solution polymerization technique. The synthesized CMC-co-PAAm/polyaniline with interpenetrating network structure was prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline to enhance conductivity. The molecular structure and morphology of the copolymer hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The novel conducting polymer hydrogels show good electrical and electrochemical behavior, which makes them potentially useful in electronic devices such as supercapacitors, biosensors, bioelectronics, solar cells and memory devices.

Porous polymer networks and ion-exchange media and metal-polymer composites made therefrom

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kanatzidis, Mercouri G.; Katsoulidis, Alexandros

2016-10-18

Porous polymeric networks and composite materials comprising metal nanoparticles distributed in the polymeric networks are provided. Also provided are methods for using the polymeric networks and the composite materials in liquid- and vapor-phase waste remediation applications. The porous polymeric networks, are highly porous, three-dimensional structures characterized by high surface areas. The polymeric networks comprise polymers polymerized from aldehydes and phenolic molecules.

Topological structure and mechanics of glassy polymer networks.

Science.gov (United States)

Elder, Robert M; Sirk, Timothy W

2017-11-22

The influence of chain-level network architecture (i.e., topology) on mechanics was explored for unentangled polymer networks using a blend of coarse-grained molecular simulations and graph-theoretic concepts. A simple extension of the Watts-Strogatz model is proposed to control the graph properties of the network such that the corresponding physical properties can be studied with simulations. The architecture of polymer networks assembled with a dynamic curing approach were compared with the extended Watts-Strogatz model, and found to agree surprisingly well. The final cured structures of the dynamically-assembled networks were nearly an intermediate between lattice and random connections due to restrictions imposed by the finite length of the chains. Further, the uni-axial stress response, character of the bond breaking, and non-affine displacements of fully-cured glassy networks were analyzed as a function of the degree of disorder in the network architecture. It is shown that the architecture strongly affects the network stability, flow stress, onset of bond breaking, and ultimate stress while leaving the modulus and yield point nearly unchanged. The results show that internal restrictions imposed by the network architecture alter the chain-level response through changes to the crosslink dynamics in the flow regime and through the degree of coordinated chain failure at the ultimate stress. The properties considered here are shown to be sensitive to even incremental changes to the architecture and, therefore, the overall network architecture, beyond simple defects, is predicted to be a meaningful physical parameter in the mechanics of glassy polymer networks.

Photo-induced Mass Transport through Polymer Networks

Science.gov (United States)

Meng, Yuan; Anthamatten, Mitchell

2014-03-01

Among adaptable materials, photo-responsive polymers are especially attractive as they allow for spatiotemporal stimuli and response. We have recently developed a macromolecular network capable of photo-induced mass transport of covalently bound species. The system comprises of crosslinked chains that form an elastic network and photosensitive fluorescent arms that become mobile upon irradiation. We form loosely crosslinked polymer networks by Michael-Addition between multifunctional thiols and small molecule containing acrylate end-groups. The arms are connected to the network by allyl sulfide, that undergoes addition-fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) in the presence of free radicals, releasing diffusible fluorophore. The networks are loaded with photoinitiator to allow for spatial modulation of the AFCT reactions. FRAP experiments within bulk elastomers are conducted to establish correlations between the fluorophore's diffusion coefficient and experimental variables such as network architecture, temperature and UV intensity. Photo-induced mass transport between two contacted films is demonstrated, and release of fluorophore into a solvent is investigated. Spatial and temporal control of mass transport could benefit drug release, printing, and sensing applications.

Design and Application of Nanogel-Based Polymer Networks

Science.gov (United States)

Dailing, Eric Alan

Crosslinked polymer networks have wide application in biomaterials, from soft hydrogel scaffolds for cell culture and tissue engineering to glassy, high modulus dental restoratives. Composite materials formed with nanogels as a means for tuning network structure on the nanoscale have been reported, but no investigation into nanogels as the primary network component has been explored to this point. This thesis was dedicated to studying network formation from the direct polymerization of nanogels and investigating applications for these unique materials. Covalently crosslinked polymer networks were synthesized from polymerizable nanogels without the use of reactive small monomers or oligomers. Network properties were controlled by the chemical and physical properties of the nanogel, allowing for materials to be designed from nanostructured macromolecular precursors. Nanogels were synthesized from a thermally initiated solution free radical polymerization of a monomethacrylate, a dimethacrylate, and a thiol-based chain transfer agent. Monomers with a range of hydrophilic and hydrophobic character were copolymerized, and polymerizable groups were introduced through an alcohol-isocyanate click reaction. Nanogels were dispersible in water up to 75 wt%, including nanogels that contained a relatively high fraction of a conventionally water-insoluble component. Nanogels with molecular weights that ranged from 10's to 100's of kDa and hydrodynamic radii between 4 and 10 nm were obtained. Macroscopic crosslinked polymer networks were synthesized from the photopolymerization of methacrylate-functionalized nanogels in inert solvent, which was typically water. The nanogel composition and internal branching density affected both covalent and non-covalent interparticle interactions, which dictated the final mechanical properties of the networks. Nanogels with progressively disparate hydrophilic and hydrophobic character were synthesized to explore the potential for creating

Interpenetrating network hydrogel membranes of sodium alginate and poly(vinyl alcohol) for controlled release of prazosin hydrochloride through skin.

Science.gov (United States)

Kulkarni, Raghavendra V; Sreedhar, V; Mutalik, Srinivas; Setty, C Mallikarjun; Sa, Biswanath

2010-11-01

Interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel membranes of sodium alginate (SA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by solvent casting method for transdermal delivery of an anti-hypertensive drug, prazosin hydrochloride. The prepared membranes were thin, flexible and smooth. The X-ray diffraction studies indicated the amorphous dispersion of drug in the membranes. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis confirmed the IPN formation and suggests that the membrane stiffness increases with increased concentration of glutaraldehyde (GA) in the membranes. All the membranes were permeable to water vapors depending upon the extent of cross-linking. The in vitro drug release study was performed through excised rat abdominal skin; drug release depends on the concentrations of GA in membranes. The IPN membranes extended drug release up to 24 h, while SA and PVA membranes discharged the drug quickly. The primary skin irritation and skin histopathology study indicated that the prepared IPN membranes were less irritant and safe for skin application. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An interpenetrating HA/G/CS biomimic hydrogel via Diels-Alder click chemistry for cartilage tissue engineering.

Science.gov (United States)

Yu, Feng; Cao, Xiaodong; Zeng, Lei; Zhang, Qing; Chen, Xiaofeng

2013-08-14

In order to mimic the natural cartilage extracellular matrix, a novel biological degradable interpenetrating network hydrogel was synthesized from the gelatin (G), hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) by Diels-Alder "click" chemistry. HA was modified with furylamine and G was modified with furancarboxylic acid respectively. (1)H NMR spectra and elemental analysis showed that the substitution degrees of HA-furan and G-furan were 71.5% and 44.5%. Then the hydrogels were finally synthesized by cross-linking furan-modified HA and G derivatives with dimaleimide poly(ethylene glycol) (MAL-PEG-MAL). The mechanical and degradation properties of the hydrogels could be tuned simply through varying the molar ratio between furan and maleimide. Rheological, mechanical and degradation studies demonstrated that the Diels-Alder "click" chemistry is an efficient method for preparing high performance biological interpenetrating hydrogels. This biomimic hydrogel with improved mechanical properties could have great potential applications in cartilage tissue engineering. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bulletin of Materials Science | Indian Academy of Sciences

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Home; Journals; Bulletin of Materials Science. S Prasannakumar. Articles written in Bulletin of Materials Science. Volume 24 Issue 5 October 2001 pp 535-538 Polymers. Interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyol modified castor oil polyurethane and poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate): Synthesis, chemical, ...

Probing Rubber Cross-Linking Generation of Industrial Polymer Networks at Nanometer Scale.

Science.gov (United States)

Gabrielle, Brice; Gomez, Emmanuel; Korb, Jean-Pierre

2016-06-23

We present improved analyses of rheometric torque measurements as well as (1)H double-quantum (DQ) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) buildup data on polymer networks of industrial compounds. This latter DQ NMR analysis allows finding the distribution of an orientation order parameter (Dres) resulting from the noncomplete averaging of proton dipole-dipole couplings within the cross-linked polymer chains. We investigate the influence of the formulation (filler and vulcanization systems) as well as the process (curing temperature) ending to the final polymer network. We show that DQ NMR follows the generation of the polymer network during the vulcanization process from a heterogeneous network to a very homogeneous one. The time variations of microscopic Dres and macroscopic rheometric torques present power-law behaviors above a threshold time scale with characteristic exponents of the percolation theory. We observe also a very good linear correlation between the kinetics of Dres and rheometric data routinely performed in industry. All these observations confirm the description of the polymer network generation as a critical phenomenon. On the basis of all these results, we believe that DQ NMR could become a valuable tool for investigating in situ the cross-linking of industrial polymer networks at the nanometer scale.

Angle selective backscattered electron contrast in the low-voltage scanning electron microscope: Simulation and experiment for polymers

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wan, Q., E-mail: qwan2@sheffield.ac.uk [Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom); Masters, R.C. [Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom); Lidzey, D. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom); Abrams, K.J. [Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom); Dapor, M. [European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas (ECT-FBK) and Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA-INFN), via Sommarive 18, I-38123 Trento (Italy); Plenderleith, R.A. [Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom); Rimmer, S. [Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom); Claeyssens, F.; Rodenburg, C. [Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN (United Kingdom)

2016-12-15

Recently developed detectors can deliver high resolution and high contrast images of nanostructured carbon based materials in low voltage scanning electron microscopes (LVSEM) with beam deceleration. Monte Carlo Simulations are also used to predict under which exact imaging conditions purely compositional contrast can be obtained and optimised. This allows the prediction of the electron signal intensity in angle selective conditions for back-scattered electron (BSE) imaging in LVSEM and compares it to experimental signals. Angle selective detection with a concentric back scattered (CBS) detector is considered in the model in the absence and presence of a deceleration field, respectively. The validity of the model prediction for both cases was tested experimentally for amorphous C and Cu and applied to complex nanostructured carbon based materials, namely a Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate (PNIPAM/PEGDA) semi-interpenetration network (IPN) and a Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) film, to map nano-scale composition and crystallinity distribution by avoiding experimental imaging conditions that lead to a mixed topographical and compositional contrast - Highlights: • An optimised model for nano-scale analysis of beam sensitive materials by LVSEM. • Simulation and separation of composition and topography in a CBS detector. • Selective angle backscattered electron collection for mapping of polymers.

Angle selective backscattered electron contrast in the low-voltage scanning electron microscope: Simulation and experiment for polymers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wan, Q.; Masters, R.C.; Lidzey, D.; Abrams, K.J.; Dapor, M.; Plenderleith, R.A.; Rimmer, S.; Claeyssens, F.; Rodenburg, C.

2016-01-01

Recently developed detectors can deliver high resolution and high contrast images of nanostructured carbon based materials in low voltage scanning electron microscopes (LVSEM) with beam deceleration. Monte Carlo Simulations are also used to predict under which exact imaging conditions purely compositional contrast can be obtained and optimised. This allows the prediction of the electron signal intensity in angle selective conditions for back-scattered electron (BSE) imaging in LVSEM and compares it to experimental signals. Angle selective detection with a concentric back scattered (CBS) detector is considered in the model in the absence and presence of a deceleration field, respectively. The validity of the model prediction for both cases was tested experimentally for amorphous C and Cu and applied to complex nanostructured carbon based materials, namely a Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate (PNIPAM/PEGDA) semi-interpenetration network (IPN) and a Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) film, to map nano-scale composition and crystallinity distribution by avoiding experimental imaging conditions that lead to a mixed topographical and compositional contrast - Highlights: • An optimised model for nano-scale analysis of beam sensitive materials by LVSEM. • Simulation and separation of composition and topography in a CBS detector. • Selective angle backscattered electron collection for mapping of polymers.

Implicit multi-fluid simulation of interpenetrating plasmas

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rambo, P.W.; Denavit, J.

1992-01-01

A one dimensional simulation code for interpenetrating multi-component plasmas is presented. Separate fluid equations for multiple species and the Poisson equation for the electric field are solved implicitly to allow stable accurate solutions over a wide range of the time scale parameters ω p Δt and ν c Δt (ω p is the plasma frequency, ν c a typical collision frequency and Δt the time step). In regions where ω p Δt c Δt p Δt >>1 and/or ν c Δt>>1, the ambipolar and/or diffusion models are recovered. In regions of low collisionality, particles may be created and deleted which are followed using particle and cell techniques combined with scatter and drag due to collisions with the fluids. Applications of this code to interpenetrating laser generated plasmas are presented

B S Sherigara

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Home; Journals; Bulletin of Materials Science. B S Sherigara. Articles written in Bulletin of Materials Science. Volume 24 Issue 5 October 2001 pp 535-538 Polymers. Interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyol modified castor oil polyurethane and poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate): Synthesis, chemical, mechanical ...

Mechanical properties of polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network materials.

Science.gov (United States)

Coldea, Andrea; Swain, Michael V; Thiel, Norbert

2013-04-01

To determine and identify correlations between flexural strength, strain at failure, elastic modulus and hardness versus ceramic network densities of a range of novel polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network (PICN) materials. Four ceramic network densities ranging from 59% to 72% of theoretical density, resin infiltrated PICN as well as pure polymer and dense ceramic cross-sections were subjected to Vickers Indentations (HV 5) for hardness evaluation. The flexural strength and elastic modulus were measured using three-point-bending. The fracture response of PICNs was determined for cracks induced by Vickers-indentation. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe the indented areas. Depending on the density of the porous ceramic the flexural strength of PICNs ranged from 131 to 160MPa, the hardness values ranged between 1.05 and 2.10GPa and the elastic modulus between 16.4 and 28.1GPa. SEM observations of the indentation induced cracks indicate that the polymer network causes greater crack deflection than the dense ceramic material. The results were compared with simple analytical expressions for property variation of two phase composite materials. This study points out the correlation between ceramic network density, elastic modulus and hardness of PICNs. These materials are considered to more closely imitate natural tooth properties compared with existing dental restorative materials. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. All rights reserved.

Gas adsorption/separation properties of metal directed self-assembly of two coordination polymers with 5-nitroisophthalate

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Arıcı, Mürsel [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Eskişehir (Turkey); Yeşilel, Okan Zafer, E-mail: yesilel@ogu.edu.tr [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Eskişehir (Turkey); Keskin, Seda [Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koç University, İstanbul (Turkey); Şahin, Onur [Scientific and Technological Research Application and Research Center, Sinop University, 57010 Sinop (Turkey)

2014-02-15

Two new coordination polymers, namely, [Co(µ-nip)(µ-bpe)]{sub n} (1) and [Zn(µ-nip)(µ-bpe)]{sub n} (2) (nip: 5-nitroisophthalate, bpe: 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermal analysis. Moreover, atomically detailed simulation studies of complex 2 for CO{sub 2}/CH{sub 4} adsorption and separation were performed. Complex 1 consists of two dimensional (2D) (4,4) grid networks with the point symbol of 4{sup 4}.6{sup 2}. Complex 2 exhibits a 3-fold interpenetrating 3D framework with 6{sup 5}.8-dmp topology. Thermal properties of the complexes showed that both complexes were stable over 320 °C. Simulation studies demonstrated that complex 2 can separate CO{sub 2} from CH{sub 4} at low pressures at 273 K. - Graphical abstract: In this study, two new coordination polymers, namely, [Co(µ-nip)(µ-bpe)]{sub n} (1) and [Zn(µ-nip)(µ-bpe)]{sub n} (2) (nip: 5-nitroisophthalate, bpe: 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and thermal analysis. Moreover, atomically detailed simulation studies of complex 2 for CO{sub 2}/CH{sub 4} adsorption and separation were performed. Complex 1 consists of two dimensional (2D) (4,4) grid networks with the point symbol of 4{sup 4}.6{sup 2}. Complex 2 exhibits a 3-fold interpenetrating 3D framework with 6{sup 5}.8-dmp topology. Simulation studies demonstrated that complex 2 can separate CO{sub 2} from CH{sub 4} at low pressures at 273 K. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Two new coordination polymers with 5-nitroisophthalate and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane. • Atomically detailed simulation studies of the complexes. • Complex 2 can be proposed as molecular sieve to separate CO{sub 2} from CH{sub 4} at low pressures.

Development of air stable polymer solar cells using an inverted gold on top anode structure

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sahin, Yuecel; Alem, Salima; Bettignies, Remi de; Nunzi, Jean-Michel

2005-01-01

We developed indium-tin-oxide/perylene diimide (or bathocuproine (BCP))/poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene (MEH-PPV) and [6,6]-phenyl C 60 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend/copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)/Au interpenetrated network polymer solar cells in order to improve air stability. The stability properties of the cells were characterized by current-voltage measurements under the influence of light and air. We achieved long lifetime solar cells which work at least 2 weeks under ambient air conditions without encapsulation. Solar energy conversion efficiency of the cells decrease 30% of the first day value at the end of 2 weeks. Photocurrent absorption properties of the devices were also investigated

Effect of chain rigidity on network architecture and deformation behavior of glassy polymer networks

Science.gov (United States)

Knowles, Kyler Reser

Processing carbon fiber composite laminates creates molecular-level strains in the thermoset matrix upon curing and cooling which can lead to failures such as geometry deformations, micro-cracking, and other issues. It is known strain creation is attributed to the significant volume and physical state changes undergone by the polymer matrix throughout the curing process, though storage and relaxation of cure-induced strains remain poorly understood. This dissertation establishes two approaches to address the issue. The first establishes testing methods to simultaneously measure key volumetric properties of a carbon fiber composite laminate and its polymer matrix. The second approach considers the rigidity of the polymer matrix in regards to strain storage and relaxation mechanisms which ultimately control composite performance throughout manufacturing and use. Through the use of a non-contact, full-field strain measurement technique known as digital image correlation (DIC), we describe and implement useful experiments which quantify matrix and composite parameters necessary for simulation efforts and failure models. The methods are compared to more traditional techniques and show excellent correlation. Further, we established relationships which represent matrix-fiber compatibility in regards to critical processing constraints. The second approach involves a systematic study of epoxy-amine networks which are chemically-similar but differ in chain segment rigidity. Prior research has investigated the isomer effect of glassy polymers, showing sizeable differences in thermal, volumetric, physical, and mechanical properties. This work builds on these themes and shows the apparent isomer effect is rather an effect of chain rigidity. Indeed, it was found that structurally-dissimilar polymer networks exhibit very similar properties as a consequence of their shared average network rigidity. Differences in chain packing, as a consequence of chain rigidity, were shown to

Microwave-assisted synthesis of sucrose polyurethanes and their semi-interpenetrating polymer networks with polycaprolactane and soybean oil

Science.gov (United States)

Because of the current interest in sustainability, environmental stewardship, and green chemistry, there has been a lot of interest in using agrobased raw materials for the design of polymeric materials. One of the promising biorenewable materials is sucrose, which is inexpensive and widely availabl...

Transient response of nonlinear polymer networks: A kinetic theory

Science.gov (United States)

Vernerey, Franck J.

2018-06-01

Dynamic networks are found in a majority of natural materials, but also in engineering materials, such as entangled polymers and physically cross-linked gels. Owing to their transient bond dynamics, these networks display a rich class of behaviors, from elasticity, rheology, self-healing, or growth. Although classical theories in rheology and mechanics have enabled us to characterize these materials, there is still a gap in our understanding on how individuals (i.e., the mechanics of each building blocks and its connection with others) affect the emerging response of the network. In this work, we introduce an alternative way to think about these networks from a statistical point of view. More specifically, a network is seen as a collection of individual polymer chains connected by weak bonds that can associate and dissociate over time. From the knowledge of these individual chains (elasticity, transient attachment, and detachment events), we construct a statistical description of the population and derive an evolution equation of their distribution based on applied deformation and their local interactions. We specifically concentrate on nonlinear elastic response that follows from the strain stiffening response of individual chains of finite size. Upon appropriate averaging operations and using a mean field approximation, we show that the distribution can be replaced by a so-called chain distribution tensor that is used to determine important macroscopic measures such as stress, energy storage and dissipation in the network. Prediction of the kinetic theory are then explored against known experimental measurement of polymer responses under uniaxial loading. It is found that even under the simplest assumptions of force-independent chain kinetics, the model is able to reproduce complex time-dependent behaviors of rubber and self-healing supramolecular polymers.

Silk sericin/polyacrylamide in situ forming hydrogels for dermal reconstruction.

Science.gov (United States)

Kundu, Banani; Kundu, Subhas C

2012-10-01

In situ forming tissue sealants are advantageous due to ease in application, complete coverage of defect site and assured comfort levels to patients. The interconnected three-dimensional hydrophilic networks perfectly manage typical dermal wounds by suitably scaffolding skin fibroblast, diffusing the nutrients, therapeutics and exudates while still maintaining an adequately moist environment. We evaluate the cell homing ability of semi-interpenetrating non-mulberry tropical tasar silk sericin/polyacrylamide hydrophilic network with a keen understanding of its network characteristics and correlation of protein concentration with the performance as cell scaffold. Interconnectivity of porous networks observed through scanning electron micrograph revealed pore sizes ranging from 23 to 52 μm. The enhanced β-sheet content with the increasing sericin concentration in far red spectroscopy study supported their corresponding improved compressive strength. These semi-interpenetrating networks were found to possess a maximum fluid uptake of 112% of its weight, hence preventing the accumulation of exudates at the wound area. The present systems appear to possess characteristics like rapid gelation (~5min) at 37 °C, 98% porosity enabling the migration of fibroblasts during healing (observed through confocal and scanning electron micrographs), cell adhesion together with the absence of any cyto-toxic effect suggesting its potential as in situ tissue sealants. The compressive strength up to 61 kPa ensured ease in handling even when wet. The results prove the suitability to use non-mulberry tasar cocoon silk sericin/polyacrylamide semi-interpenetrating network as a reconstructive dermal sealant. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dissolution of covalent adaptable network polymers in organic solvent

Science.gov (United States)

Yu, Kai; Yang, Hua; Dao, Binh H.; Shi, Qian; Yakacki, Christopher M.

2017-12-01

It was recently reported that thermosetting polymers can be fully dissolved in a proper organic solvent utilizing a bond-exchange reaction (BER), where small molecules diffuse into the polymer, break the long polymer chains into short segments, and eventually dissolve the network when sufficient solvent is provided. The solvent-assisted dissolution approach was applied to fully recycle thermosets and their fiber composites. This paper presents the first multi-scale modeling framework to predict the dissolution kinetics and mechanics of thermosets in organic solvent. The model connects the micro-scale network dynamics with macro-scale material properties: in the micro-scale, a model is developed based on the kinetics of BERs to describe the cleavage rate of polymer chains and evolution of chain segment length during the dissolution. The micro-scale model is then fed into a continuum-level model with considerations of the transportation of solvent molecules and chain segments in the system. The model shows good prediction on conversion rate of functional groups, degradation of network mechanical properties, and dissolution rate of thermosets during the dissolution. It identifies the underlying kinetic factors governing the dissolution process, and reveals the influence of different material and processing variables on the dissolution process, such as time, temperature, catalyst concentration, and chain length between cross-links.

2D parallel interpenetration of [M2(bpp)4X4] [M, Fe(II)/Co(II); bpp, 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridine; X, SCN-, SeCN- and N3-] complexes: Pseudohalide-dependent conformation of bpp

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Manna, Subal Chandra; Jana, Atish Dipankar; Rosair, Georgina M.; Drew, Michael G.B.; Mostafa, Golam; Ray Chaudhuri, Nirmalendu

2008-01-01

Three coordination complexes of Co(II)/Fe(II) with 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridine (bpp) and pseudohalides (SCN - , SeCN - and N 3 - ) have been synthesized. The complexes have been characterized by X-ray single crystal structure determination. They are isomorphous having 2D layers in which two independent wavy nets display parallel interwoven structures. Pseudohalide binds metal centers through N terminal and occupies the trans axial positions of the octahedral metal coordination environment. Pseudohalide remains pendant on both sides of the polymeric layer and help the stacking through hydrogen bonding. The conformation of bpp in the interpenetrated nets is observed to be dependent on the choice of pseudohalide. - Graphical abstract: Complexes of [M 2 (bpp) 4 X 4 ] [M, Fe(II)/Co(II); bpp, 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridine; X, SCN - , SeCN - and N3 - ] have been synthesized. The structural analysis reveals undulated 2D network with (4,4) net topology adopting two different conformations of bpp alternately. Two such networks undergo parallel interpenetration. Pseudohalides are observed to help in stacking the interpenetrated nets through hydrogen bonding

Semi-metallic, strong and stretchable wet-spun conjugated polymer microfibers

KAUST Repository

Zhou, Jian

2015-01-21

A dramatic improvement in electrical conductivity is necessary to make conductive polymer fibers viable candidates in applications such as flexible electrodes, conductive textiles, and fast-response sensors and actuators. In this study, high-performance poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) conjugated polymer microfibers were fabricated via wet-spinning followed by hot-drawing. Due to the combined effects of the vertical hot-drawing process and doping/de-doping the microfibers with ethylene glycol (EG), we achieved a record electrical conductivity of 2804 S cm−1. This is, to the best of our knowledge, a six-fold improvement over the best previously reported value for PEDOT/PSS fibers (467 S cm−1) and a two-fold improvement over the best values for conductive polymer films treated by EG de-doping (1418 S cm−1). Moreover, we found that these highly conductive fibers experience a semiconductor–metal transition at 313 K. They also have superior mechanical properties with a Young\\'s modulus up to 8.3 GPa, a tensile strength reaching 409.8 MPa and a large elongation before failure (21%). The most conductive fiber also demonstrates an extraordinary electrical performance during stretching/unstretching: the conductivity increased by 25% before the fiber rupture point with a maximum strain up to 21%. Simple fabrication of the semi-metallic, strong and stretchable wet-spun PEDOT/PSS microfibers described here could make them available for conductive smart electronics.

Synergistic stiffening in double-fiber networks

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Rombouts, W.H.; Giesbers, M.; Lent, van J.W.M.; Wolf, de F.A.; Gucht, van der J.

2014-01-01

Many biological materials are composite structures, interpenetrating networks of different types of fibers. The composite nature of such networks leads to superior mechanical properties, but the origin of this mechanical synergism is still poorly understood. Here we study soft composite networks,

Interpenetrating polymer networks based on polyol modified castor ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Unknown

glycerol modification of castor oil results in more crosslinked and stiffer IPNs possessing better mechanical properties over that of unmodified castor oil polyurethane/. PHEMA IPNs. 3.5 Chemical resistance. The percentage weight loss of IPNs were determined in. H2SO4, CH3COOH, HCl, HNO3, NaCl and NaOH etc and.

Role of architecture in the elastic response of semiflexible polymer and fiber networks

Science.gov (United States)

Heussinger, Claus; Frey, Erwin

2007-01-01

We study the elasticity of cross-linked networks of thermally fluctuating stiff polymers. As compared to their purely mechanical counterparts, it is shown that these thermal networks have a qualitatively different elastic response. By accounting for the entropic origin of the single-polymer elasticity, the networks acquire a strong susceptibility to polydispersity and structural randomness that is completely absent in athermal models. In extensive numerical studies we systematically vary the architecture of the networks and identify a wealth of phenomena that clearly show the strong dependence of the emergent macroscopic moduli on the underlying mesoscopic network structure. In particular, we highlight the importance of the polymer length, which to a large extent controls the elastic response of the network, surprisingly, even in parameter regions where it does not enter the macroscopic moduli explicitly. Understanding these subtle effects is only possible by going beyond the conventional approach that considers the response of typical polymer segments only. Instead, we propose to describe the elasticity in terms of a typical polymer filament and the spatial distribution of cross-links along its backbone. We provide theoretical scaling arguments to relate the observed macroscopic elasticity to the physical mechanisms on the microscopic and mesoscopic scales.

Gas permeation through a polymer network

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Schmittmann, B; Gopalakrishnan, Manoj; Zia, R K P

2005-01-01

We study the diffusion of gas molecules through a two-dimensional network of polymers with the help of Monte Carlo simulations. The polymers are modelled as non-interacting random walks on the bonds of a two-dimensional square lattice, while the gas particles occupy the lattice cells. When a particle attempts to jump to a nearest-neighbour empty cell, it has to overcome an energy barrier which is determined by the number of polymer segments on the bond separating the two cells. We investigate the gas current J as a function of the mean segment density ρ, the polymer length l and the probability q m for hopping across m segments. Whereas J decreases monotonically with ρ for fixed l, its behaviour for fixed ρ and increasing ldepends strongly on q. For small, non-zero q, J appears to increase slowly with l. In contrast, for q = 0, it is dominated by the underlying percolation problem and can be non-monotonic. We provide heuristic arguments to put these interesting phenomena into context

Aromatic carboxylate effect on dimensionality of three bis(benzimidazole)-based cobalt(II) coordination polymers: Syntheses, structures and properties

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhang, Ju-Wen; Gong, Chun-Hua; Hou, Li-Li; Tian, Ai-Xiang; Wang, Xiu-Li

2013-01-01

Three new metal-organic coordination polymers [Co(4-bbc) 2 (bbbm)] (1), [Co(3,5-pdc)(bbbm)]·2H 2 O (2) and [Co(1,4-ndc)(bbbm)] (3) (4-Hbbc=4-bromobenzoic acid, 3,5-H 2 pdc=3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-H 2 ndc=1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and bbbm=1,1-(1,4-butanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole) were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Polymer 1 is a 1D chain formed by the bbbm ligands and Co II ions. Polymer 2 exhibits a 2D network with a (3·4·5)(3 2 ·4·5·6 2 ·7 4 ) topology. Polymer 3 possesses a 3D three-fold interpenetrating framework. The versatile structures of title polymers indicate that the aromatic carboxylates have an important influence on the dimensionality of 1–3. Moreover, the thermal stability, electrochemical and luminescent properties of 1–3 were investigated. - graphical abstract: Three bis(benzimidazole)-based cobalt(II) coordination polymers tuned by aromatic carboxylates were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The aromatic carboxylates play a key role in the dimensionality of three polymers. The electrochemical and luminescent properties of three polymers were investigated. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Three bis(benzimidazole)-based cobalt(II) coordination polymers tuned by aromatic carboxylates were obtained. • The aromatic carboxylates have an important influence on the dimensionality of three polymers. • The electrochemical and luminescent properties of three polymers were investigated

Entanglement effects in model polymer networks

Science.gov (United States)

Everaers, R.; Kremer, K.

The influence of topological constraints on the local dynamics in cross-linked polymer melts and their contribution to the elastic properties of rubber elastic systems are a long standing problem in statistical mechanics. Polymer networks with diamond lattice connectivity (Everaers and Kremer 1995, Everaers and Kremer 1996a) are idealized model systems which isolate the effect of topology conservation from other sources of quenched disorder. We study their behavior in molecular dynamics simulations under elongational strain. In our analysis we compare the measured, purely entropic shear moduli G to the predictions of statistical mechanical models of rubber elasticity, making extensive use of the microscopic structural and topological information available in computer simulations. We find (Everaers and Kremer 1995) that the classical models of rubber elasticity underestimate the true change in entropy in a deformed network significantly, because they neglect the tension along the contour of the strands which cannot relax due to entanglements (Everaers and Kremer (in preparation)). This contribution and the fluctuations in strained systems seem to be well described by the constrained mode model (Everaers 1998) which allows to treat the crossover from classical rubber elasticity to the tube model for polymer networks with increasing strand length within one transparant formalism. While this is important for the description of the effects we try to do a first quantitative step towards their explanation by topological considerations. We show (Everaers and Kremer 1996a) that for the comparatively short strand lengths of our diamond networks the topology contribution to the shear modulus is proportional to the density of entangled mesh pairs with non-zero Gauss linking number. Moreover, the prefactor can be estimated consistently within a rather simple model developed by Vologodskii et al. and by Graessley and Pearson, which is based on the definition of an entropic

Semi-conducting plastics for disposable electronic devices - What are the organic semi-conductors arriving on the market?; Des plastiques semi-conducteurs pour l'electronique jetable. Qui sont les semi-conducteurs organiques qui arrivent sur le marche?

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nueesch, F. A. [EMPA, Duebendorf (Switzerland)

2010-07-01

This is a popularization article that describes basic properties of semi-conductors and reports on the status of research and development of organic semi-conductors. In a first part, fundamentals of semi-conductors are recalled. Comparisons are made between inorganic and organic (i.e. based on carbon polymers) compounds. Indications are given on how semi-conducting polymers are obtained. Potential applications are listed: flexible organic solar cells, light emitting diodes, flexible organic displays, intelligent cards for ticketing, etc. Research on organic semi-conductors is of great interest for industry, worldwide, and several companies are widely investing in this area.

Anion-Controlled Architecture and Photochromism of Naphthalene Diimide-Based Coordination Polymers

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jian-Jun Liu

2018-02-01

Full Text Available Three new cadmium coordination polymers, namely [Cd(NO32(DPNDI(CH3OH]·CH3OH (1, [Cd(SCN2(DPNDI] (2, and [Cd(DPNDI2(DMF2]·2ClO4 (3 (DPNDI = N,N-di(4-pyridyl-1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide have been synthesized by reactions of DPNDI with Cd(NO32, Cd(SCN2, and Cd(ClO42, respectively. Compound 1 is a one-dimensional coordination polymer with strong lone pair-π interactions between the coordinated NO3− anions and the imide ring of DPNDI; while 2 is a two-dimensional network with a (4, 4 net topology. In the case of 3, due to the presence of uncoordinated perchlorate counter ions, it exhibits a non-interpenetrated square-grid coordination polymer containing one-dimensional rhomboid channels. The structural diversity in these compounds is attributed to different coordination abilities and geometries of counter anions. Due to the presence of electron-deficient NDI moiety, the photochromic behavior of these compounds was studied. Interestingly, only compounds 1 and 3 exhibit color changes under light irradiation. The influence of the anions on the photochromism process of the NDI-based materials has been discussed.

Ductile thermoset polymers via controlling network flexibility.

Science.gov (United States)

Hameed, N; Salim, N V; Walsh, T R; Wiggins, J S; Ajayan, P M; Fox, B L

2015-06-18

We report the design and synthesis of a polymer structure from a cross-linkable epoxy-ionic liquid system which behaves like a hard and brittle epoxy thermoset, perfectly ductile thermoplastic and an elastomer, all depending on controllable network compositions.

Shape memory polymers based on uniform aliphatic urethane networks

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wilson, T S; Bearinger, J P; Herberg, J L; Marion III, J E; Wright, W J; Evans, C L; Maitland, D J

2007-01-19

Aliphatic urethane polymers have been synthesized and characterized, using monomers with high molecular symmetry, in order to form amorphous networks with very uniform supermolecular structures which can be used as photo-thermally actuable shape memory polymers (SMPs). The monomers used include hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), trimethylhexamethylenediamine (TMHDI), N,N,N{prime},N{prime}-tetrakis(hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine (HPED), triethanolamine (TEA), and 1,3-butanediol (BD). The new polymers were characterized by solvent extraction, NMR, XPS, UV/VIS, DSC, DMTA, and tensile testing. The resulting polymers were found to be single phase amorphous networks with very high gel fraction, excellent optical clarity, and extremely sharp single glass transitions in the range of 34 to 153 C. Thermomechanical testing of these materials confirms their excellent shape memory behavior, high recovery force, and low mechanical hysteresis (especially on multiple cycles), effectively behaving as ideal elastomers above T{sub g}. We believe these materials represent a new and potentially important class of SMPs, and should be especially useful in applications such as biomedical microdevices.

Interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate): morphology effects on formation, swelling, optical, and mechanical properties

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Dušková-Smrčková, Miroslava; Sadakbayeva, Zhansaya; Steinhart, Miloš; Šturcová, Adriana; Pfleger, Jiří; Dušek, Karel

2017-01-01

Roč. 254, 20 August (2017), s. 40 ISSN 0065-7727. [ACS National Meeting & Exposition /254./. 20.08.2017-24.08.2017, Washington] Institutional support: RVO:61389013 Keywords : IPN * poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) * hydrogel Subject RIV: CD - Macromolecular Chemistry OBOR OECD: Polymer science

Fracture Simulation of Highly Crosslinked Polymer Networks: Triglyceride-Based Adhesives

Science.gov (United States)

Lorenz, Christian; Stevens, Mark; Wool, Richard

2003-03-01

The ACRES program at the U. of Delaware has shown that triglyceride oils derived from plants are a favorable alternative to the traditional adhesives. The triglyceride networks are formed from an initial mixture of styrene monomers, free-radical initiators and triglycerides. We have performed simulations to study the effect of physical composition and physical characteristics of the triglyceride network on the strength of triglyceride network. A coarse-grained, bead-spring model of the triglyceride system is used. The average triglyceride consists of 6 beads per chain, the styrenes are represented as a single bead and the initiators are two bead chains. The polymer network is formed using an off-lattice 3D Monte Carlo simulation, in which the initiators activate the styrene and triglyceride reactive sites and then bonds are randomly formed between the styrene and active triglyceride monomers producing a highly crosslinked polymer network. Molecular dynamics simulations of the network under tensile and shear strains were performed to determine the strength as a function of the network composition. The relationship between the network structure and its strength will also be discussed.

ITO-free inverted polymer/fullerene solar cells: Interface effects and comparison of different semi-transparent front contacts

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Wilken, Sebastian; Hoffmann, Thomas; von Hauff, Elizabeth; Borchert, Holger; Parisi, Juergen

Polymer/fullerene solar cells with an inverted layer sequence and free from indium tin oxide (ITO) are presented in this study. We concentrate on critical interface effects in inverted devices and compare different semi-transparent front contacts, such as ultra-thin Au films and Au grid structures.

Modelling the permeability of polymers: a neural network approach

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Wessling, Matthias; Mulder, M.H.V.; Bos, A.; Bos, A.; van der Linden, M.K.T.; Bos, M.; van der Linden, W.E.

1994-01-01

In this short communication, the prediction of the permeability of carbon dioxide through different polymers using a neural network is studied. A neural network is a numeric-mathematical construction that can model complex non-linear relationships. Here it is used to correlate the IR spectrum of a

Modeling fiber Bragg grating device networks in photomechanical polymer optical fibers

Science.gov (United States)

Lanska, Joseph T.; Kuzyk, Mark G.; Sullivan, Dennis M.

2015-09-01

We report on the modeling of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) networks in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer fibers doped with azo dyes. Our target is the development of Photomechanical Optical Devices (PODs), comprised of two FBGs in series, separated by a Fabry-Perot cavity of photomechanical material. PODs exhibit photomechanical multi-stability, with the capacity to access multiple length states for a fixed input intensity when a mechanical shock is applied. Using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical methods, we modeled the photomechanical response of both Fabry-Perot and Bragg-type PODs in a single polymer optical fiber. The polymer fiber was modeled as an instantaneous Kerr-type nonlinear χ(3) material. Our model correctly predicts the essential optical features of FBGs as well as the photomechanical multi-stability of nonlinear Fabry-Perot cavity-based PODs. Networks of PODs may provide a framework for smart shape-shifting materials and fast optical computation where the decision process is distributed over the entire network. In addition, a POD can act as memory, and its response can depend on input history. Our models inform and will accelerate targeted development of novel Bragg grating-based polymer fiber device networks for a variety of applications in optical computing and smart materials.

Interpenetrating polyaniline-gold electrodes for SERS and electrochemical measurements

Science.gov (United States)

West, R. M.; Semancik, S.

2016-11-01

Facile fabrication of nanostructured electrode arrays is critical for development of bimodal SERS and electrochemical biosensors. In this paper, the variation of applied potential at a polyaniline-coated Pt electrode is used to selectivity deposit Au on the polyaniline amine sites or on the underlying Pt electrode. By alternating the applied potential, the Au is grown simultaneously from the top and the bottom of the polyaniline film, leading to an interpenetrated, nanostructured polymer-metal composite extending from the Pt electrode to the electrolyte solution. The resulting films have unique pH-dependent electrochemical properties, e.g. they retain electrochemical activity in both acidic and neutral solutions, and they also include SERS-active nanostructures. By varying the concentration of chloroaurate used during deposition, Au nanoparticles, nanodendrites, or nanosheets can be selectively grown. For the films deposited under optimal conditions, using 5 mmol/L chloroaurate, the SERS enhancement factor for Rhodamine 6G was found to be as high as 1.1 × 106 with spot-to-spot and electrode-to-electrode relative standard deviations as low as 8% and 12%, respectively. The advantages of the reported PANI-Au composite electrodes lie in their facile fabrication, enabling the targeted deposition of tunable nanostructures on sensing arrays, and their ability to produce orthogonal optical and electrochemical analytical results.

Realization of highly efficient polymer solar cell based on PBDTTT-EFT and [71]PCBM

Science.gov (United States)

Bharti, Vishal; Chand, Suresh; Dutta, Viresh

2018-04-01

In this work, we have fabricated highly efficient polymer solar cells based on the blend of PBDTTT-EFT:PC71BM in the inverted device configuration. By using low temperature processed zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as an electron-transport layer (ETL) and 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) as additive in chlorobenzene (CB) solvent we have achieved PCE of 9.43% with an excellent short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 17.6 mAcm-2, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.80 V and fill factor (FF) of 0.67. These results reveals that addition of 3% DIO additive in CB solvent improve the morphology (lower charge carrier recombination and better metal/organic semiconductor interface) and provide uniform interpenetrating networks in PBDTTT-EFT:PC71BM blend active layer.

Pros and Cons of the Interpenetrating Panel Design

Science.gov (United States)

Paul C. Van Deusen

2000-01-01

The interpenetrating sample design has been selected for the USDA Forest Service's Annual Forest Inventory System. The advantages and disadvantages of this design are discussed by considering alternatives such as the formerly used periodic design, a concentrated grid design, and disturbance based sampling. Factors considered for each design include fulfilling 1998...

An interfacially plasticized electro-responsive hydrogel for transdermal electro-activated and modulated (TEAM) drug delivery

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Indermun, S.; Choonara, Y.E.; Kumar, Pradeep; Toit, Du L.C.; Modi, G.; Luttge, R.; Pillay, V.

2014-01-01

This paper highlights the use of hydrogels in controlled drug delivery, and their application in stimuli responsive, especially electro-responsive, drug release. electro-conductive hydrogels (ECHs) displaying electro-responsive drug release were synthesized from semi-interpenetrating networks

Towards the understanding of the molecular weight dependence of essential work of fracture in semi-crystalline polymers: A study on poly(ε-caprolactone

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

F. Tuba

2014-11-01

Full Text Available The plane-stress ductile fracture of poly(#-caprolactone (PCL has been investigated as a function of molecular weight and related crystalline structure. Because of the interacting effects in semi-crystalline polymers a separate study of a given structural parameter is rather challenging. Nevertheless, this polymer seems to be a good model material to study the effect of molecular weight on the essential work of fracture, as the interactions between the separate parameters, at room temperature, are negligible. The molecular characteristics of PCL were determined by size exclusion chromatography. To confirm the entangled molecular structure of studied polymers rheological measurements were performed. The crystalline morphology has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X-ray diffraction. Quasi-static tensile tests and essential work of fracture tests were performed to study the mechanical behavior. Based on the experimental observations an empirical model has been proposed to outline the molecular weight and crystallinity dependence of the essential work of fracture in this semi-crystalline polymer.

Selective Adsorption of Ethane over Ethylene in PCN-245: Impacts of Interpenetrated Adsorbent.

Science.gov (United States)

Lv, Daofei; Shi, Renfeng; Chen, Yongwei; Wu, Ying; Wu, Houxiao; Xi, Hongxia; Xia, Qibin; Li, Zhong

2018-03-07

The separation of ethane from ethylene using cryogenic distillation is an energy-intensive process in the industry. With lower energetic consumption, the adsorption technology provides the opportunities for developing the industry with economic sustainability. We report an iron-based metal-organic framework PCN-245 with interpenetrated structures as an ethane-selective adsorbent for ethylene/ethane separation. The material maintains stability up to 625 K, even after exposure to 80% humid atmosphere for 20 days. Adsorptive separation experiments on PCN-245 at 100 kPa and 298 K indicated that ethane and ethylene uptakes of PCN-245 were 3.27 and 2.39 mmol, respectively, and the selectivity of ethane over ethylene was up to 1.9. Metropolis Monte Carlo calculations suggested that the interpenetrated structure of PCN-245 created greater interaction affinity for ethane than ethylene through the crossing organic linkers, which is consistent with the experimental results. This work highlights the potential application of adsorbents with the interpenetrated structure for ethane separation from ethylene.

Nanofluids and chemical highly retentive hydrogels for controlled and selective removal of overpaintings and undesired graffiti from street art.

Science.gov (United States)

Giorgi, Rodorico; Baglioni, Michele; Baglioni, Piero

2017-06-01

One of the main problems connected to the conservation of street art is the selective removal of overlying undesired graffiti, i.e., drawings and tags. Unfortunately, selective and controlled removal of graffiti and overpaintings from street art is almost unachievable using traditional methodologies. Recently, the use of nanofluids confined in highly retentive pHEMA/PVP semi-interpenetrated polymer networks was proposed. Here, we report on the selective removal of acrylic overpaintings from a layer of acrylic paint on mortar mockups in laboratory tests. The results of the cleaning tests were characterized by visual and photographic observation, optical microscopy, and FT-IR microreflectance investigation. It was shown that this methodology represents a major advancement with respect to the use of nonconfined neat solvents.

Substituted Polyacetylenes Prepared with Rh Catalysts: From Linear to Network-Type Conjugated Polymers

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Sedláček, J.; Balcar, Hynek

2017-01-01

Roč. 57, č. 1 (2017), s. 31-51 ISSN 1558-3724 Institutional support: RVO:61388955 Keywords : conjugated polymers * polyacetylenes * conjugated polymer networks Subject RIV: CF - Physical ; Theoretical Chemistry OBOR OECD: Polymer science Impact factor: 6.459, year: 2016

Room temperature synthesis of heptazine-based microporous polymer networks as photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution.

Science.gov (United States)

Kailasam, Kamalakannan; Schmidt, Johannes; Bildirir, Hakan; Zhang, Guigang; Blechert, Siegfried; Wang, Xinchen; Thomas, Arne

2013-06-25

Two emerging material classes are combined in this work, namely polymeric carbon nitrides and microporous polymer networks. The former, polymeric carbon nitrides, are composed of amine-bridged heptazine moieties and showed interesting performance as a metal-free photocatalyst. These materials have, however, to be prepared at high temperatures, making control of their chemical structure difficult. The latter, microporous polymer networks have received increasing interest due to their high surface area, giving rise to interesting applications in gas storage or catalysis. Here, the central building block of carbon nitrides, a functionalized heptazine as monomer, and tecton are used to create microporous polymer networks. The resulting heptazine-based microporous polymers show high porosity, while their chemical structure resembles the ones of carbon nitrides. The polymers show activity for the photocatalytic production of hydrogen from water, even under visible light illumination. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Fullerene derivatives as components for 'plastic' photovoltaic cells

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Hummelen, J.C.; Knol, J.; Kadish, KM; Ruoff, RS

1998-01-01

Derivatives of [60]fullerene, mixed with conducting polymers to yield donor-acceptor bulk-heterojunction (beta-junction) materials, are useful in 'plastic' photovoltaic devices. In order to enhance the charge carrier mobilities in the two individual interpenetrating networks, one important goal of

Evolution of egoism on semi-directed and undirected Barabási-Albert networks

Science.gov (United States)

Lima, F. W. S.

2015-05-01

Through Monte Carlo simulations, we study the evolution of the four strategies: Ethnocentric, altruistic, egoistic and cosmopolitan in one community of individuals. Interactions and reproduction among computational agents are simulated on undirected and semi-directed Barabási-Albert (BA) networks. We study the Hammond-Axelrod (HA) model on undirected and semi-directed BA networks for the asexual reproduction case. With a small modification in the traditional HA model, our simulations showed that egoism wins, differently from other results found in the literature where ethnocentric strategy is common. Here, mechanisms such as reciprocity are absent.

Cost-effective computational method for radiation heat transfer in semi-crystalline polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Boztepe, Sinan; Gilblas, Rémi; de Almeida, Olivier; Le Maoult, Yannick; Schmidt, Fabrice

2018-05-01

This paper introduces a cost-effective numerical model for infrared (IR) heating of semi-crystalline polymers. For the numerical and experimental studies presented here semi-crystalline polyethylene (PE) was used. The optical properties of PE were experimentally analyzed under varying temperature and the obtained results were used as input in the numerical studies. The model was built based on optically homogeneous medium assumption whereas the strong variation in the thermo-optical properties of semi-crystalline PE under heating was taken into account. Thus, the change in the amount radiative energy absorbed by the PE medium was introduced in the model induced by its temperature-dependent thermo-optical properties. The computational study was carried out considering an iterative closed-loop computation, where the absorbed radiation was computed using an in-house developed radiation heat transfer algorithm -RAYHEAT- and the computed results was transferred into the commercial software -COMSOL Multiphysics- for solving transient heat transfer problem to predict temperature field. The predicted temperature field was used to iterate the thermo-optical properties of PE that varies under heating. In order to analyze the accuracy of the numerical model experimental analyses were carried out performing IR-thermographic measurements during the heating of the PE plate. The applicability of the model in terms of computational cost, number of numerical input and accuracy was highlighted.

Improved model of activation energy absorption for different electrical breakdowns in semi-crystalline insulating polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Sima, Wenxia; Jiang, Xiongwei; Peng, Qingjun; Sun, Potao

2018-05-01

Electrical breakdown is an important physical phenomenon in electrical equipment and electronic devices. Many related models and theories of electrical breakdown have been proposed. However, a widely recognized understanding on the following phenomenon is still lacking: impulse breakdown strength which varies with waveform parameters, decrease in the breakdown strength of AC voltage with increasing frequency, and higher impulse breakdown strength than that of AC. In this work, an improved model of activation energy absorption for different electrical breakdowns in semi-crystalline insulating polymers is proposed based on the Harmonic oscillator model. Simulation and experimental results show that, the energy of trapped charges obtained from AC stress is higher than that of impulse voltage, and the absorbed activation energy increases with the increase in the electric field frequency. Meanwhile, the frequency-dependent relative dielectric constant ε r and dielectric loss tanδ also affect the absorption of activation energy. The absorbed activation energy and modified trap level synergistically determine the breakdown strength. The mechanism analysis of breakdown strength under various voltage waveforms is consistent with the experimental results. Therefore, the proposed model of activation energy absorption in the present work may provide a new possible method for analyzing and explaining the breakdown phenomenon in semi-crystalline insulating polymers.

Copper-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition polymer networks

Science.gov (United States)

Alzahrani, Abeer Ahmed

The click reaction concept, introduced in 2001, has since spurred the rapid development and reexamination of efficient, high yield reactions which proceed rapidly under mild conditions. Prior to the discovery of facile copper catalysis in 2002, the thermally activated azide-alkyne or Huisgen cycloaddition reaction was largely ignored following its discovery in large part due to its slow kinetics, requirement for elevated temperature and limited selectivity. Now, arguably, the most prolific and capable of the click reactions, the copper-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction is extremely efficient and affords exquisite control of the reaction. The orthogonally and chemoselectivity of this reaction enable its wide utility across varied scientific fields. Despite numerous inherent advantages and widespread use for small molecule synthesis and solution-based polymer chemistry, it has only recently and rarely been utilized to form polymer networks. This work focuses on the synthesis, mechanisms, and unique attributes of the CuAAC reaction for the fabrication of functional polymer networks. The photo-reduction of a series of copper(II)/amine complexes via ligand metal charge transfer was examined to determine their relative efficiency and selectivity in catalyzing the CuAAC reaction. The aliphatic amine ligands were used as an electron transfer species to reduce Cu(II) upon irradiation with 365 nm light while also functioning as an accelerating agent and as protecting ligands for the Cu(I) that was formed. Among the aliphatic amines studied, tertiary amines such as triethylamine (TEA), tetramethyldiamine (TMDA), N,N,N',N",N"-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTETA) were found to be the most effective. The reaction kinetics were accelerated by increasing the PMDETA : Cu(II) ratio with a ratio of ligand to Cu(II) of 4:1 yielding the maximum conversion in the shortest time. The sequential and orthogonal nature of the photo

Dynamic assembly of ultrasoft colloidal networks enables cell invasion within restrictive fibrillar polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Douglas, Alison M.; Fragkopoulos, Alexandros A.; Gaines, Michelle K.; Lyon, L. Andrew; Fernandez-Nieves, Alberto; Barker, Thomas H.

2017-01-01

In regenerative medicine, natural protein-based polymers offer enhanced endogenous bioactivity and potential for seamless integration with tissue, yet form weak hydrogels that lack the physical robustness required for surgical manipulation, making them difficult to apply in practice. The use of higher concentrations of protein, exogenous cross-linkers, and blending synthetic polymers has all been applied to form more mechanically robust networks. Each relies on generating a smaller network mesh size, which increases the elastic modulus and robustness, but critically inhibits cell spreading and migration, hampering tissue regeneration. Here we report two unique observations; first, that colloidal suspensions, at sufficiently high volume fraction (ϕ), dynamically assemble into a fully percolated 3D network within high-concentration protein polymers. Second, cells appear capable of leveraging these unique domains for highly efficient cell migration throughout the composite construct. In contrast to porogens, the particles in our system remain embedded within the bulk polymer, creating a network of particle-filled tunnels. Whereas this would normally physically restrict cell motility, when the particulate network is created using ultralow cross-linked microgels, the colloidal suspension displays viscous behavior on the same timescale as cell spreading and migration and thus enables efficient cell infiltration of the construct through the colloidal-filled tunnels.

Prediction of Polymer Flooding Performance with an Artificial Neural Network: A Two-Polymer-Slug Case

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jestril Ebaga-Ololo

2017-07-01

Full Text Available Many previous contributions to methods of forecasting the performance of polymer flooding using artificial neural networks (ANNs have been made by numerous researchers previously. In most of those forecasting cases, only a single polymer slug was employed to meet the objective of the study. The intent of this manuscript is to propose an efficient recovery factor prediction tool at different injection stages of two polymer slugs during polymer flooding using an ANN. In this regard, a back-propagation algorithm was coupled with six input parameters to predict three output parameters via a hidden layer composed of 10 neurons. Evaluation of the ANN model performance was made with multiple linear regression. With an acceptable correlation coefficient, the proposed ANN tool was able to predict the recovery factor with errors of <1%. In addition, to understand the influence of each parameter on the output parameters, a sensitivity analysis was applied to the input parameters. The results showed less impact from the second polymer concentration, owing to changes in permeability after the injection of the first polymer slug.

Photovoltaic Properties in Interpenetrating Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells Utilizing MoO3 and ZnO Charge Transport Buffer Layers

Science.gov (United States)

Hori, Tetsuro; Moritou, Hiroki; Fukuoka, Naoki; Sakamoto, Junki; Fujii, Akihiko; Ozaki, Masanori

2010-01-01

Organic thin-film solar cells with a conducting polymer (CP)/fullerene (C60) interpenetrating heterojunction structure, fabricated by spin-coating a CP onto a C60 deposit thin film, have been investigated and demonstrated to have high efficiency. The photovoltaic properties of solar cells with a structure of indium-tin-oxide/C60/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PAT6)/Au have been improved by the insertion of molybdenum trioxide (VI) (MoO3) and zinc oxide charge transport buffer layers. The enhanced photovoltaic properties have been discussed, taking into consideration the ground-state charge transfer between PAT6 and MoO3 by measurement of the differential absorption spectra and the suppressed contact resistance at the interface between the organic and buffer layers. PMID:28883360

Photovoltaic Properties in Interpenetrating Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells Utilizing MoO3 and ZnO Charge Transport Buffer Layers

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Tetsuro Hori

2010-11-01

Full Text Available Organic thin-film solar cells with a conducting polymer (CP/fullerene (C60 interpenetrating heterojunction structure, fabricated by spin-coating a CP onto a C60 deposit thin film, have been investigated and demonstrated to have high efficiency. The photovoltaic properties of solar cells with a structure of indium-tin-oxide/C60/ poly(3-hexylthiophene (PAT6/Au have been improved by the insertion of molybdenum trioxide (VI (MoO3 and zinc oxide charge transport buffer layers. The enhanced photovoltaic properties have been discussed, taking into consideration the ground-state charge transfer between PAT6 and MoO3 by measurement of the differential absorption spectra and the suppressed contact resistance at the interface between the organic and buffer layers.

Bulletin of Materials Science | Indian Academy of Sciences

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Home; Journals; Bulletin of Materials Science. A K Bajpai. Articles written in Bulletin of Materials Science. Volume 28 Issue 6 October 2005 pp 529-534 Review—Polymers. Morphological, thermal and annealed microhardness characterization of gelatin based interpenetrating networks of polyacrylonitrile: A hard biopolymer.

T V Thanikai Velan

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Home; Journals; Bulletin of Materials Science. T V Thanikai Velan. Articles written in Bulletin of Materials Science. Volume 23 Issue 5 October 2000 pp 425-429 Polymers. Aliphatic amine cured PDMS–epoxy interpenetrating network system for high performance engineering applications—Development and characterization.

Fullerene Derivatives as Components for ‘Plastic’ Photovoltaic Cells

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Knol, Joop; Hummelen, Jan C.

1998-01-01

Derivatives of [60]fullerene, mixed with conducting polymers to yield donor-acceptor bulk-heterojunction (β-junction) materials, are useful in ‘plastic’ photovoltaic devices. In order to enhance the charge carrier mobilities in the two individual interpenetrating networks, one important goal of our

I Mohammed Bilal

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Home; Journals; Bulletin of Materials Science. I Mohammed Bilal. Articles written in Bulletin of Materials Science. Volume 23 Issue 5 October 2000 pp 425-429 Polymers. Aliphatic amine cured PDMS–epoxy interpenetrating network system for high performance engineering applications—Development and characterization.

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Novel Fullerene Derivatives as Model Compounds for Bulk-Heterojunction PV Cells

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Hal, P.A. van; Langeveld-Voss, B.M.W.; Peeters, E.; Janssen, R.A.J.; Knol, J.; Hummelen, J.C.

2000-01-01

Covalent and well-defined oligomer-fullerene donor-acceptor molecular structures can serve as important model systems for plastic PV cells, based on interpenetrating networks of conjugated polymers and fullerene derivatives. Two series of [60]fullerene-oligomer dyads and triads were prepared and

Generative Adversarial Networks-Based Semi-Supervised Learning for Hyperspectral Image Classification

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Zhi He

2017-10-01

Full Text Available Classification of hyperspectral image (HSI is an important research topic in the remote sensing community. Significant efforts (e.g., deep learning have been concentrated on this task. However, it is still an open issue to classify the high-dimensional HSI with a limited number of training samples. In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised HSI classification method inspired by the generative adversarial networks (GANs. Unlike the supervised methods, the proposed HSI classification method is semi-supervised, which can make full use of the limited labeled samples as well as the sufficient unlabeled samples. Core ideas of the proposed method are twofold. First, the three-dimensional bilateral filter (3DBF is adopted to extract the spectral-spatial features by naturally treating the HSI as a volumetric dataset. The spatial information is integrated into the extracted features by 3DBF, which is propitious to the subsequent classification step. Second, GANs are trained on the spectral-spatial features for semi-supervised learning. A GAN contains two neural networks (i.e., generator and discriminator trained in opposition to one another. The semi-supervised learning is achieved by adding samples from the generator to the features and increasing the dimension of the classifier output. Experimental results obtained on three benchmark HSI datasets have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method , especially with a limited number of labeled samples.

An Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Interactions Involving Polymers and Silane Networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Rodrigo L. Oréfice

1998-12-01

Full Text Available ABSTRACT: Silane coupling agents have been frequently used as interfacial agents in polymer composites to improve interfacial strength and resistance to fluid migration. Although the capability of these agents in improving properties and performance of composites has been reported, there are still many uncertainties regarding the processing-structure-property relationships and the mechanisms of coupling developed by silane agents. In this work, an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM was used to measure interactions between polymers and silica substrates, where silane networks with a series of different structures were processed. The influence of the structure of silane networks on the interactions with polymers was studied and used to determine the mechanisms involved in the coupling phenomenon. The AFM results showed that phenomena such as chain penetration, entanglements, intersegment bonding, chain conformation in the vicinities of rigid surfaces were identified as being relevant for the overall processes of adhesion and adsorption of polymeric chains within a silane network. AFM adhesion curves showed that penetration of polymeric chains through a more open silane network can lead to higher levels of interactions between polymer and silane agents.

A 1D thermomechanical network transition constitutive model coupled with multiple structural relaxation for shape memory polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Zeng, Hao; Xie, Zhimin; Gu, Jianping; Sun, Huiyu

2018-03-01

A new thermomechanical network transition constitutive model is proposed in the study to describe the viscoelastic behavior of shape memory polymers (SMPs). Based on the microstructure of semi-crystalline SMPs, a new simplified transformation equation is proposed to describe the transform of transient networks. And the generalized fractional Maxwell model is introduced in the paper to estimate the temperature-dependent storage modulus. In addition, a neo-KAHR theory with multiple discrete relaxation processes is put forward to study the structural relaxation of the nonlinear thermal strain in cooling/heating processes. The evolution equations of the time- and temperature-dependent stress and strain response are developed. In the model, the thermodynamical and mechanical characteristics of SMPs in the typical thermomechanical cycle are described clearly and the irreversible deformation is studied in detail. Finally, the typical thermomechanical cycles are simulated using the present constitutive model, and the simulation results agree well with the experimental results.

Effect of pH on chitosan hydrogel polymer network structure.

Science.gov (United States)

Xu, Hongcheng; Matysiak, Silvina

2017-06-29

Chitosan is a molecule that can form water-filled 3D polymer networks with a wide range of applications. A new coarse-grained model for chitosan hydrogel was developed to explore its pH-dependent self-assembly behavior and mechanical properties. Our results indicate that the underlying polymer physical crosslinking pattern induced by solution pH has a significant effect on hydrogel elastic moduli. With this model, we obtain pH-dependent structural and mechanical property changes in agreement with experimental observations, and provide a molecular mechanism behind the changes in polymer crosslinking patterns.

IPN's of Acrylic Acid and N-Isopropylacrylamide by Gamma and Electron Beam Irradiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Burillo, G.

2006-01-01

In recent years, temperature and pH sensitive hydrogels have been investigated widely because of their unique properties and versatile applications in medicine and biotechnology, as well as drug delivery. However a serious limitation of hydrogels in many applications is the low mechanical strength of such gels when highly swollen. To overcome this problem, sensitive hydrogels were prepared with satisfactory mechanical properties as a semi-interpenetranting network, where one of them is a mechanically stable polymer. In this work temperature sensitive monomer N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and a pH sensitive monomer, acrylic acid (AAc) were prepared as an interpenetranting network by a sequential method. Poly (AAc) hydrogels were prepared in glass tubes 3 mm inner diameter, at room temperature from an aqueous solutions 50%vol under argon atmosphere, and irradiated with a Co 6 0 gamma source, at doses from 5 to 30 kGy and dose rate of 3 kGy/h. Poly (AAc) hydrogels were also prepared by electron beam irradiation with a Van de Graaff at a dose rate of 19.4 kGy/min, and radiation doses from 10 to 30 kGy. After polymerization and crosslinking, the gels were washed in water during 48 h, and dried in vacuo to constant weight. Poly (NIPAAm) as secondary gel was synthetized directly within the primary gels in aqueous solution with the croslinker N, N' methylenebisacrylamide (BIS), the accelerator N,N,N , N tetramethyl ethylenediamidne TMEDA, and potasium persulfate as initiator. Equilibrium swelling properties of hydrogels were studied in pH 2.2-8 range and temperature 10-45degree; LCST and pH critic point of the IPN's were determined; the composition of the interpenetrating network was measured by elemental analysis, and the morphological structure characterized by SEM. The volume of the cells of PAAC hydrogels decreased with increase in radiation dose, their mechanic hardness increased and they lost elasticity. The interpenetrating networks of samples with PAAc irradiated

Preparation of wheat straw based superabsorbent resins and their applications as adsorbents for ammonium and phosphate removal.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Jia; Su, Yuan; Li, Qian; Yue, Qinyan; Gao, Baoyu

2013-09-01

A novel wheat straw cellulose-g-poly (potassium acrylate)/polyvinyl alcohol (WSC-g-PKA/PVA) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) superabsorbent resin (SAR) was prepared by graft copolymerization. The structure and performance of the WSC-g-PKA/PVA semi-IPNs SAR was studied and compared with those of wheat straw cellulose-g-poly (potassium acrylate) (WSC-g-PKA) SAR. The effects of various experimental parameters such as solution pH, concentration, contact time and ion strength on NH4(+) and PO4(3-) removal from solutions were investigated. Equilibrium isotherm data of adsorption of both NH4(+) and PO4(3-) were well fitted to the Freundlich model. Kinetic analysis showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was more suitable for describing the whole adsorption process of NH4(+) and PO4(3-) on SARs. Overall, WSC-g-PKA/PVA semi-IPNs SAR showed better properties in comparison with WSC-g-PKA SAR and it could be considered as one efficient material for the removal and recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus with the agronomic reuse as a fertilizer. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Engineering the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Networks with Precise Doping of Primary Defects.

Science.gov (United States)

Chan, Doreen; Ding, Yichuan; Dauskardt, Reinhold H; Appel, Eric A

2017-12-06

Polymer networks are extensively utilized across numerous applications ranging from commodity superabsorbent polymers and coatings to high-performance microelectronics and biomaterials. For many applications, desirable properties are known; however, achieving them has been challenging. Additionally, the accurate prediction of elastic modulus has been a long-standing difficulty owing to the presence of loops. By tuning the prepolymer formulation through precise doping of monomers, specific primary network defects can be programmed into an elastomeric scaffold, without alteration of their resulting chemistry. The addition of these monomers that respond mechanically as primary defects is used both to understand their impact on the resulting mechanical properties of the materials and as a method to engineer the mechanical properties. Indeed, these materials exhibit identical bulk and surface chemistry, yet vastly different mechanical properties. Further, we have adapted the real elastic network theory (RENT) to the case of primary defects in the absence of loops, thus providing new insights into the mechanism for material strength and failure in polymer networks arising from primary network defects, and to accurately predict the elastic modulus of the polymer system. The versatility of the approach we describe and the fundamental knowledge gained from this study can lead to new advancements in the development of novel materials with precisely defined and predictable chemical, physical, and mechanical properties.

Networks 90: Polymer Networks Group Meeting (10th) and IUPAC international Symposium on Polymer Networks (10th) Held in Jerusalem on 20-25 May 1990. Programme and Abstracts

Science.gov (United States)

1990-05-25

Ingenieria Quimica, 12 de octubre 1842, 8000 Bahia Blanca, Argentina. P-36 BRANCHING KINETICS OF EPOXY POLYMERIZATION OF 1,4-BUTANEDIOL DIGLYCIDYL ETHER...OF ENTANGLED POLYMERS IN MELTS L-6 J. des Cloizeaux (France) 14:45-15:05 THE CONCEPT OF INTRINSIC CHAIN STRESS IN L-7 POLYMER NETWORKS J.J. Weiner, J...RELATION TO DIFFUSIVE TRANSPORT A.M. Weiss, K. Adler, A.J. Grodzinsky, M.L. Yarmush (Israel, USA) 15:05-15:25 DIFFUSION BEHAVIOUR IN SOLUTIONS OF L-25

Fabrication and characterisation of a novel biomimetic anisotropic ceramic/polymer-infiltrated composite material.

Science.gov (United States)

Al-Jawoosh, Sara; Ireland, Anthony; Su, Bo

2018-04-10

To fabricate and characterise a novel biomimetic composite material consisting of aligned porous ceramic preforms infiltrated with polymer. Freeze-casting was used to fabricate and control the microstructure and porosity of ceramic preforms, which were subsequently infiltrated with 40-50% by volume UDMA-TEGDMA polymer. The composite materials were then subjected to characterisation, namely density, compression, three-point bend, hardness and fracture toughness testing. Samples were also subjected to scanning electron microscopy and computerised tomography (Micro-CT). Three-dimensional aligned honeycomb-like ceramic structures were produced and full interpenetration of the polymer phase was observed using micro-CT. Depending on the volume fraction of the ceramic preform, the density of the final composite ranged from 2.92 to 3.36g/cm 3 , compressive strength ranged from 206.26 to 253.97MPa, flexural strength from 97.73 to 145.65MPa, hardness ranged from 1.46 to 1.62GPa, and fracture toughness from 3.91 to 4.86MPam 1/2 . Freeze-casting provides a novel method to engineer composite materials with a unique aligned honeycomb-like interpenetrating structure, consisting of two continuous phases, inorganic and organic. There was a correlation between the ceramic fraction and the subsequent, density, strength, hardness and fracture toughness of the composite material. Copyright © 2018 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Beyond Creation of Mesoporosity: The Advantages of Polymer-Based Dual-Function Templates for Fabricating Hierarchical Zeolites

KAUST Repository

Tian, Qiwei

2016-02-05

Direct synthesis of hierarchical zeolites currently relies on the use of surfactant-based templates to produce mesoporosity by the random stacking of 2D zeolite sheets or the agglomeration of tiny zeolite grains. The benefits of using nonsurfactant polymers as dual-function templates in the fabrication of hierarchical zeolites are demonstrated. First, the minimal intermolecular interactions of nonsurfactant polymers impose little interference on the crystallization of zeolites, favoring the formation of 3D continuous zeolite frameworks with a long-range order. Second, the mutual interpenetration of the polymer and the zeolite networks renders disordered but highly interconnected mesopores in zeolite crystals. These two factors allow for the synthesis of single-crystalline, mesoporous zeolites of varied compositions and framework types. A representative example, hierarchial aluminosilicate (meso-ZSM-5), has been carefully characterized. It has a unique branched fibrous structure, and far outperforms bulk aluminosilicate (ZSM-5) as a catalyst in two model reactions: conversion of methanol to aromatics and catalytic cracking of canola oil. Third, extra functional groups in the polymer template can be utilized to incorporate desired functionalities into hierarchical zeolites. Last and most importantly, polymer-based templates permit heterogeneous nucleation and growth of mesoporous zeolites on existing surfaces, forming a continuous zeolitic layer. In a proof-of-concept experiment, unprecedented core-shell-structured hierarchical zeolites are synthesized by coating mesoporous zeolites on the surfaces of bulk zeolites. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Analysis and control of Boolean networks a semi-tensor product approach

CERN Document Server

Cheng, Daizhan; Li, Zhiqiang

2010-01-01

This book presents a new approach to the investigation of Boolean control networks, using the semi-tensor product (STP), which can express a logical function as a conventional discrete-time linear system. This makes it possible to analyze basic control problems.

Active semi-supervised learning method with hybrid deep belief networks.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhou, Shusen; Chen, Qingcai; Wang, Xiaolong

2014-01-01

In this paper, we develop a novel semi-supervised learning algorithm called active hybrid deep belief networks (AHD), to address the semi-supervised sentiment classification problem with deep learning. First, we construct the previous several hidden layers using restricted Boltzmann machines (RBM), which can reduce the dimension and abstract the information of the reviews quickly. Second, we construct the following hidden layers using convolutional restricted Boltzmann machines (CRBM), which can abstract the information of reviews effectively. Third, the constructed deep architecture is fine-tuned by gradient-descent based supervised learning with an exponential loss function. Finally, active learning method is combined based on the proposed deep architecture. We did several experiments on five sentiment classification datasets, and show that AHD is competitive with previous semi-supervised learning algorithm. Experiments are also conducted to verify the effectiveness of our proposed method with different number of labeled reviews and unlabeled reviews respectively.

Static semicoercive normal compliance contact problem with limited interpenetration

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Jarušek, Jiří

2015-01-01

Roč. 66, č. 5 (2015), s. 2161-2172 ISSN 0044-2275 R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GAP201/12/0671 Institutional support: RVO:67985840 Keywords : contact * limited interpenetration * friction Subject RIV: BA - General Mathematics Impact factor: 1.560, year: 2015 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00033-015-0539-5

Biomimetic alginate/polyacrylamide porous scaffold supports human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and chondrogenesis

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Guo, Peng [Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, EENT Hospital, Shanghai 200031 (China); Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, 210029 (China); Yuan, Yasheng, E-mail: yuanyasheng@163.com [Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, EENT Hospital, Shanghai 200031 (China); Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, 210029 (China); Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 (United States); Chi, Fanglu [Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, EENT Hospital, Shanghai 200031 (China); Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, 210029 (China)

2014-09-01

We describe the development of alginate/polyacrylamide (ALG/PAAm) porous hydrogels based on interpenetrating polymer network structure for human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and chondrogenesis. Three ALG/PAAm hydrogels at molar ratios of 10/90, 20/80, and 30/70 were prepared and characterized with enhanced elastic and rubbery mechanical properties, which are similar to native human cartilage tissues. Their elasticity and swelling properties were also studied under different physiological pH conditions. Finally, in vitro tests demonstrated that human mesenchymal stem cells could proliferate on the as-synthesized hydrogels with improved alkaline phosphatase activities. These results suggest that ALG/PAAm hydrogels may be a promising biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering. - Highlights: • ALG/PAAm hydrogels were prepared at different molar ratios for cartilage tissue engineering. • ALG/PAAm hydrogels feature an interpenetrating polymer network structure. • ALG/PAAm hydrogels demonstrate strengthened elastic and rubbery mechanical properties. • hMSCs could be cultured on the ALG/PAAm hydrogels for proliferation and chondrogenesis.

Biomimetic alginate/polyacrylamide porous scaffold supports human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and chondrogenesis

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Guo, Peng; Yuan, Yasheng; Chi, Fanglu

2014-01-01

We describe the development of alginate/polyacrylamide (ALG/PAAm) porous hydrogels based on interpenetrating polymer network structure for human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and chondrogenesis. Three ALG/PAAm hydrogels at molar ratios of 10/90, 20/80, and 30/70 were prepared and characterized with enhanced elastic and rubbery mechanical properties, which are similar to native human cartilage tissues. Their elasticity and swelling properties were also studied under different physiological pH conditions. Finally, in vitro tests demonstrated that human mesenchymal stem cells could proliferate on the as-synthesized hydrogels with improved alkaline phosphatase activities. These results suggest that ALG/PAAm hydrogels may be a promising biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering. - Highlights: • ALG/PAAm hydrogels were prepared at different molar ratios for cartilage tissue engineering. • ALG/PAAm hydrogels feature an interpenetrating polymer network structure. • ALG/PAAm hydrogels demonstrate strengthened elastic and rubbery mechanical properties. • hMSCs could be cultured on the ALG/PAAm hydrogels for proliferation and chondrogenesis

New coordination polymers from 1D chain, 2D layer to 3D framework constructed from 1,2-phenylenediacetic acid and 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane flexible ligands

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Xin Lingyun; Liu Guangzhen; Wang Liya

2011-01-01

The hydrothermal reactions of Cd, Zn, or Cu(II) acetate salts with H 2 PHDA and BPP flexible ligands afford three new coordination polymers, including [Cd(PHDA)(BPP)(H 2 O)] n (1), [Zn(PHDA)(BPP)] n (2), and [Cu 2 (PHDA) 2 (BPP)] n (3) (H 2 PHDA=1,2-phenylenediacetic acid, BPP=1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane). The single-crystal X-ray diffractions reveal that all three complexes feature various metal carboxylate subunits extended further by the BPP ligands to form a diverse range of structures, displaying a remarked structural sensitivity to metal(II) cation. Complex 1 containing PHDA-bridged binuclear cadmium generates 1D double-stranded chain, complex 2 results in 2D→2D interpenetrated (4,4) grids, and complex 3 displays a 3D self-penetrated framework with 4 8 6 6 8 rob topology. In addition, fluorescent analyses show that both 1 and 2 exhibit intense blue-violet photoluminescence in the solid state. - Graphical Abstract: We show diverse supramolecular frameworks based on the same ligands (PHDA and BPP) and different metal acetate salts including 1D double-stranded chain, 2D → 2D twofold interpenetrated layer, and 3D self-penetration networks. Highlights: → Three metal(II = 2 /* ROMAN ) coordination polymers were synthesized using H 2 PHDA and BPP. → The diversity of structures show a remarked sensitivity to metal(II) center. → Complexes show the enhancement of fluorescence compared to that of free ligand.

The Integration of Nanoscale Techniques for an Improved Battery Technology

Science.gov (United States)

2012-06-08

anodized aluminum oxide ( AAO ) membranes that were 13...nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide ( AAO ) substrate [13]. During sputtering, thickened columnar growths form around the pores of the substrate...investigates an interpenetrating network structure where ―tubes‖ of polymer electrolyte are placed in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide ( AAO

Synthesis and characterization of castor oil based polyurethane ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Unknown

Abstract. A series of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of castor oil based polyurethane/polyacrylo- nitrile (PU/PAN: 80/20, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60 and 20/80) were synthesized by condensation reaction of castor oil with methylene diisocyanate and acrylonitrile, employing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and ethylene glycol ...

21 CFR 888.3410 - Hip joint metal/polymer or ceramic/polymer semiconstrained resurfacing cemented prosthesis.

Science.gov (United States)

2010-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Hip joint metal/polymer or ceramic/polymer... Devices § 888.3410 Hip joint metal/polymer or ceramic/polymer semiconstrained resurfacing cemented prosthesis. (a) Identification. A hip joint metal/polymer or ceramic/polymer semi-constrained resurfacing...

Using an effective dimensionality to map the force-extension relation for a semi-flexible polymer in a nanoslit

Science.gov (United States)

de Haan, Hendrick

2015-03-01

The force-extension relation for a semi-flexible polymer is well described by the Marko-Siggia equation in both two and three dimensions. However, while of interest for experimental systems such as DNA in nanopits, the behaviour between these limiting dimensionalities is less understood. I will present results from simulations of a polymer subject to a stretching force F confined in nanoslits of varying heights h. Going from the 3D case to the 2D case, both the coefficients of the equation and the relevant persistence length are shown to change. This observation leads to the definition of an effective dimensionality, deff, to characterize the system. At low F, using deff in a generalized form of the Marko-Siggia relation provides good agreement with the simulation curves. However, at high F, deff drifts back towards d = 3 . 0 . The reason behind this F dependence is discussed. Semi-empirical forms for strong and weak confinement regimes will be presented and shown to give good agreement across all slit heights and stretching forces. deff is thus dependent on h and F and provides a cohesive physical picture for all regimes.

Semi-supervised prediction of gene regulatory networks using machine learning algorithms.

Science.gov (United States)

Patel, Nihir; Wang, Jason T L

2015-10-01

Use of computational methods to predict gene regulatory networks (GRNs) from gene expression data is a challenging task. Many studies have been conducted using unsupervised methods to fulfill the task; however, such methods usually yield low prediction accuracies due to the lack of training data. In this article, we propose semi-supervised methods for GRN prediction by utilizing two machine learning algorithms, namely, support vector machines (SVM) and random forests (RF). The semi-supervised methods make use of unlabelled data for training. We investigated inductive and transductive learning approaches, both of which adopt an iterative procedure to obtain reliable negative training data from the unlabelled data. We then applied our semi-supervised methods to gene expression data of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and evaluated the performance of our methods using the expression data. Our analysis indicated that the transductive learning approach outperformed the inductive learning approach for both organisms. However, there was no conclusive difference identified in the performance of SVM and RF. Experimental results also showed that the proposed semi-supervised methods performed better than existing supervised methods for both organisms.

Integrative gene network construction to analyze cancer recurrence using semi-supervised learning.

Science.gov (United States)

Park, Chihyun; Ahn, Jaegyoon; Kim, Hyunjin; Park, Sanghyun

2014-01-01

The prognosis of cancer recurrence is an important research area in bioinformatics and is challenging due to the small sample sizes compared to the vast number of genes. There have been several attempts to predict cancer recurrence. Most studies employed a supervised approach, which uses only a few labeled samples. Semi-supervised learning can be a great alternative to solve this problem. There have been few attempts based on manifold assumptions to reveal the detailed roles of identified cancer genes in recurrence. In order to predict cancer recurrence, we proposed a novel semi-supervised learning algorithm based on a graph regularization approach. We transformed the gene expression data into a graph structure for semi-supervised learning and integrated protein interaction data with the gene expression data to select functionally-related gene pairs. Then, we predicted the recurrence of cancer by applying a regularization approach to the constructed graph containing both labeled and unlabeled nodes. The average improvement rate of accuracy for three different cancer datasets was 24.9% compared to existing supervised and semi-supervised methods. We performed functional enrichment on the gene networks used for learning. We identified that those gene networks are significantly associated with cancer-recurrence-related biological functions. Our algorithm was developed with standard C++ and is available in Linux and MS Windows formats in the STL library. The executable program is freely available at: http://embio.yonsei.ac.kr/~Park/ssl.php.

Integrative gene network construction to analyze cancer recurrence using semi-supervised learning.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Chihyun Park

Full Text Available BACKGROUND: The prognosis of cancer recurrence is an important research area in bioinformatics and is challenging due to the small sample sizes compared to the vast number of genes. There have been several attempts to predict cancer recurrence. Most studies employed a supervised approach, which uses only a few labeled samples. Semi-supervised learning can be a great alternative to solve this problem. There have been few attempts based on manifold assumptions to reveal the detailed roles of identified cancer genes in recurrence. RESULTS: In order to predict cancer recurrence, we proposed a novel semi-supervised learning algorithm based on a graph regularization approach. We transformed the gene expression data into a graph structure for semi-supervised learning and integrated protein interaction data with the gene expression data to select functionally-related gene pairs. Then, we predicted the recurrence of cancer by applying a regularization approach to the constructed graph containing both labeled and unlabeled nodes. CONCLUSIONS: The average improvement rate of accuracy for three different cancer datasets was 24.9% compared to existing supervised and semi-supervised methods. We performed functional enrichment on the gene networks used for learning. We identified that those gene networks are significantly associated with cancer-recurrence-related biological functions. Our algorithm was developed with standard C++ and is available in Linux and MS Windows formats in the STL library. The executable program is freely available at: http://embio.yonsei.ac.kr/~Park/ssl.php.

Kinetic studies of uranyl ion adsorption on acrylonitrile (AN)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) interpenetrating networks (IPN)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Aycik, G.A.; Gurellier, R.

2004-01-01

Full text: The kinetics of the adsorption of uranyl ions on amidoximated acrylonitrile (AN)/ polyethylene glycol (PEG) interpenetrating network (IPNs) from aqueous solutions was studied as a function of time and temperature. The IPNs were prepared by irradiation initiated gamma polymerisation using Co-60 gamma source. Adsorption capacities were performed for definite uranyl ion concentrations of 1x10 -2 M and at four different temperatures as 290K, 298K, 308K and 318K by gamma spectrometer. Adsorption time was increased from zero to 48 hours. The results indicate that adsorption capacity increases linearly with increasing temperature. Temperature and agitation hardly influence equilibrium and kinetics and decreasing of temperature results in a slightly greater time to reach equilibrium. The adsorption of uranyl ions has been studied in a multi step mechanism processes thus comparing chemical sorption and diffusion sorption processes. The experimental data was analysed using various kinetic models to determine the best-fit equation for the adsorption mechanisms. However, it was shown that all models, in general according to the reaction time and uranyl ion concentration in the solution, could describe the adsorption of uranyl ion onto amidoximated IPN, the adsorption kinetics was best described by zeroth order and intraparticle diffusion model whereas that of in increasing time by pseudo first and pseudo second order response respectively. External-intraparticle diffusion and zeroth order process in the IPN structure is proposed as a mass transfer mechanism and the results indicate a diffusion-controlled process. The Mean Activation Energy Of Uranyl Ions Adsorption Was Found As 4,1 Kj/Mole By Using Arrhenius Equation. The Rate Constant, The Equilibrium Adsorption Capacity And The Initial Adsorption Rate Were Calculated For All Models At Each Temperature. Kinetic Parameters Of All Models And The Normalized Standard Deviations Between The Measured And Predicted

2D→3D polycatenated and 3D→3D interpenetrated metal–organic frameworks constructed from thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate and rigid bis(imidazole) ligands

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Erer, Hakan [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Eskişehir (Turkey); Yeşilel, Okan Zafer, E-mail: yesilel@ogu.edu.tr [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Eskişehir (Turkey); Arıcı, Mürsel [Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Eskişehir (Turkey); Keskin, Seda [Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koç University, İstanbul (Turkey); Büyükgüngör, Orhan [Department of Physics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Ondokuz Mayıs University, 55139 Samsun (Turkey)

2014-02-15

Hydrothermal reactions of rigid 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene (dib) and 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)-2,5-dimethylbenzene (dimb) with deprotonated thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H{sub 2}tdc) in the presence of Zn(II) and Cd(II) salts in H{sub 2}O produced three new metal–organic frameworks, namely, [Zn(µ-tdc)(H{sub 2}O)(µ-dib)]{sub n} (1), [Cd(µ-tdc)(H{sub 2}O)(µ-dib)]{sub n} (2), and ([Cd{sub 2}(µ{sub 3}-tdc){sub 2}(µ-dimb){sub 2}]·(H{sub 2}O)){sub n}(3). These MOFs were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, elemental, thermal (TG, DTA, DTG and DSC), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Isomorphous complexes 1 and 2 reveal polycatenated 2D+2D→3D framework based on an undulated (4,4)-sql layer. Complex 3 exhibits a new 4-fold interpenetrating 3D framework with the point symbol of 6{sup 6}. Molecular simulations were used to assess the potentials of the complexes for H{sub 2} storage application. Moreover, these coordination polymers exhibit blue fluorescent emission bands in the solid state at room temperature. - Graphical abstract: In this study, hydrothermal reactions of rigid 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene (dib) and 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)-2,5-dimethylbenzene (dimb) with deprotonated thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H{sub 2}tdc) in the presence of Zn(II) and Cd(II) salts in H{sub 2}O produced three new metal–organic frameworks. Isomorphous complexes 1 and 2 reveal polycatenated 2D+2D→3D framework based on an undulated (4,4)-sql layer. Complex 3 exhibits a new 4-fold interpenetrating 3D framework with the point symbol of 6{sup 6}. Molecular simulations were used to assess the potentials of the complexes for H{sub 2} storage application. These coordination polymers exhibit blue fluorescent emission bands in the solid state at room temperature. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Complexes 1 and 2 display polycatenated 2D+2D→3D framework. • Complex 3 exhibits a new 4-fold interpenetrating 3D framework. • Complex 1 adsorbs the highest amount of

Design and scale-up of a semi-industrial downer-reactor for the rounding of irregular polymer particles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sachs, Marius; Schmidt, Jochen; Peukert, Wolfgang; Wirth, Karl-Ernst [Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute of Particle Technology, Cauerstr. 4, D-91058 Erlangen (Germany)

2016-03-09

The recent development of rapid prototyping technologies towards additive manufacturing reveals some major drawbacks of processes such as laser beam melting (LBM). This contribution focuses on the lack of suitable polymer material with a fine particle size and good flowability. Polymer particles obtained by a wet grinding process 1 are treated in a heated downer reactor. This treatment changes the particles’ morphology from a chiselled state towards a spherical form by surface tension forces in a molten state 2 and leads to an improved flowability. To reach the required amount of rounded polymer powder, a downer reactor in semi-industrial scale has been established and will be characterized in this article. For the purpose of particle rounding it is necessary to avoid contact of molten particles with each other and with the hot reactor walls. Furthermore, the heat distribution has been investigated as one of the key parameters of the process. Finally, a proof of concept by rounding wet grinded PBT material was successfully conducted. The product was examined to obtain data about a change in particle size and flowability.

Novel patternable and conducting metal-polymer nanocomposites: a step towards advanced mutlifunctional materials

Science.gov (United States)

Rodríguez-Cantó, Pedro J.; Martínez-Marco, Mariluz; Abargues, Rafael; Latorre-Garrido, Victor; Martínez-Pastor, Juan P.

2013-03-01

In this work, we present a novel patternable conducting nanocomposite containing gold nanoparticles. Here, the in-situ polymerization of 3T is carried out using HAuCl4 as oxidizing agent inside PMMA as host matrix. During the bake step, the gold salt is also reduced from Au(III) to Au(0) generating Au nanoparticles in the interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) system. We found that this novel multifunctional resist shows electrical conductivity and plasmonic properties as well as potential patterning capability provided by the host matrix. The resulting nanocomposite has been investigated by TEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Electrical characterization was also conducted for different concentration of 3T and Au(III) following a characteristic percolation behaviour. Conductivities values from 10-5 to 10 S/cm were successfully obtained depending on the IPN formulation. Moreover, The Au nanoparticles generated exhibited a localized surface plasmon resonance at around 520 nm. This synthetic approach is of potential application to modify the conductivity of numerous insulating polymers and synthesize Au nanoparticles preserving to some extent their physical and chemical properties. In addition, combination of optical properties (Plasmonics), electrical, and lithographic capability in the same material allows for the design of materials with novel functionalities and provides the basis for next generation devices.

Formation of interfacial network structure via photo-crosslinking in carbon fiber/epoxy composites

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

S. H. Deng

2014-07-01

Full Text Available A series of diblock copolymers (poly(n-butylacrylate-co-poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate ((PnBA-co-PHEA-b-PGMA, containing a random copolymer block PnBA-co-PHEA, were successfully synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP. After being chemically grafted onto carbon fibers, the photosensitive methacrylic groups were introduced into the random copolymer, giving a series of copolymers (poly(n-butylacrylate-co-poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl acrylate-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate((PnBA-co-PMEA-b-PGMA. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that the random copolymer block after ultraviolet (UV irradiation was a lightly crosslinked polymer and acted as an elastomer, forming a photo-crosslinked network structure at the interface of carbon fiber/epoxy composites. Microbond test showed that such an interfacial network structure greatly improved the cohesive strength and effectively controlled the deformation ability of the flexible interlayer. Furthermore, three kinds of interfacial network structures, i physical crosslinking by H-bonds, ii chemical crosslinking by photopolymerization, and iii interpenetrating crosslinked network by photopolymerization and epoxy curing reaction were received in carbon fiber/epoxy composite, depending on the various preparation processes.

An electroactive polymer energy harvester for wireless sensor networks

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

McKay, T G; Rosset, S; Shea, H; Anderson, I A

2013-01-01

This paper reports the design, fabrication, and testing of a soft electroactive polymer power generator that has a volume of 1cm 3 . The generator provides an opportunity to harvest energy from environmental sources to power wireless sensor networks because it can harvest from low frequency motions, is compact, and lightweight. Electroactive polymers are highly stretchable variable capacitors. Electrical energy is produced when the deformation of a stretched, charged electroactive polymer is relaxed; like-charges are compressed together and opposite-charges are pushed apart, resulting in an increased voltage. Although electroactive polymers have impressively displayed energy densities as high as 550 mJ/g, they have been based on films with thicknesses of tens to hundreds of micrometers, thus a generator covering a large area would be required to provide useful power. Energy harvesters covering large areas are inconvenient to deploy in a wireless sensor network with a large number of nodes, so a generator that is compact in all three dimensions is required. In this work we fabricated a generator that can fit within a 11×11×9 mm envelope by stacking 42, 11mm diameter generator films on top of each other. When compressed cyclically at a rate of 0.5 Hz our generator produced 300 uW of power which is a sufficient amount of power for a low power wireless sensor node. The combination of our generator's small form factor and ability to harvest useful energy from low frequency motions provides an opportunity to deploy large numbers of wireless sensor nodes without the need for periodic, costly battery replacement

Stagnation and interpenetration of laser-created colliding plasmas

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pollaine, S.M.; Albritton, J.R.; Kauffman, R.; Keane, C.J. (Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)); Berger, R.L.; Bosch, R.; Delameter, N.D.; Failor, B.H. (KMS Fusion, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (USA))

1990-11-05

A KMS laser experiment collides Aluminum (A1) and Magnesium (Mg) plasmas. The measurements include electron density, time and space resolved Ly-alpha and He-alpha lines of Al and Mg, and x-ray images. These measurements were analyzed with a hydrodynamic code, LASNEX, and a special two-fluid code OFIS. The results strongly suggest that at early times, the Al interpenetrates the counterstreaming Mg and deposits in the dense Mg region. At late times, the Al plasma stagnates against the Mg plasma.

3D Printing of Highly Stretchable, Shape-Memory, and Self-Healing Elastomer toward Novel 4D Printing.

Science.gov (United States)

Kuang, Xiao; Chen, Kaijuan; Dunn, Conner K; Wu, Jiangtao; Li, Vincent C F; Qi, H Jerry

2018-02-28

The three-dimensional (3D) printing of flexible and stretchable materials with smart functions such as shape memory (SM) and self-healing (SH) is highly desirable for the development of future 4D printing technology for myriad applications, such as soft actuators, deployable smart medical devices, and flexible electronics. Here, we report a novel ink that can be used for the 3D printing of highly stretchable, SM, and SH elastomer via UV-light-assisted direct-ink-write printing. An ink containing urethane diacrylate and a linear semicrystalline polymer is developed for the 3D printing of a semi-interpenetrating polymer network elastomer that can be stretched by up to 600%. The 3D-printed complex structures show interesting functional properties, such as high strain SM and SM -assisted SH capability. We demonstrate that such a 3D-printed SM elastomer has the potential application for biomedical devices, such as vascular repair devices. This research paves a new way for the further development of novel 4D printing, soft robotics, and biomedical devices.

Starch and chitosan oligosaccharides as interpenetrating phases in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) injectable gels

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Vieira, Jacquelin N.; Posada, James J. [Chemistry Department, B" 5IDA Research Group, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas (Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of); Rezende, Rodrigo A. [Divisão de Tecnologias Tridimensionais–Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer, Campinas, SP (Brazil); Sabino, Marcos A., E-mail: msabino@usb.ve [Chemistry Department, B" 5IDA Research Group, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas (Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of); Divisão de Tecnologias Tridimensionais–Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer, Campinas, SP (Brazil)

2014-04-01

Thermosensitive interpenetrating gels were prepared by physically blending poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) as the matrix and the following polysaccharides as interpenetrating phases: chitosan oligosaccharides (identified as QNAD and QNED) and soluble starch (STARCH). The molecular weight of the dispersed phase, the free water/bound water ratio and the thermosensitivity (transition temperature: LCST) of the gels were determined. It was found that these gels are pseudoplastic and that their viscosity depends on the molecular weight of the dispersed phase. LCST transition occurred around 35–37 °C. The morphology of the porosity of the freeze-dried samples was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). An in vitro test of cell hemolysis on blood agar showed that these gels are noncytotoxic. According to the results obtained, these interpenetrating gels show characteristics of an injectable material, and have a transition LCST at body temperature, which reinforces their potential to be used in the surgical field and as scaffolds for tissue engineering. - Highlights: • Physical blends were prepared to obtain thermosensitive gels PNIPA/polysaccharides. • Rheological test allowed verifying the injectability of the gels. • Gels showed a LCST ∼ 37 °C, which makes them interesting for biomedical applications. • Porosity is a function of hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity/molecular weight of phases. • The PNIPA/starch gel showed better morphology as scaffold for tissue engineering.

Four thiophene-pyridyl-amide-based Zn{sup II}/Cd{sup II} coordination polymers: Assembly, structures, photocatalytic properties and fluorescent recognition for Fe{sup 3+}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Xiu-Li; Wu, Xiao-Mei; Liu, Guo-Cheng; Li, Qiao-Min; Lin, Hong-Yan; Wang, Xiang

2017-05-15

By tuning metal ions and combining with different dicarboxylates, four new semi-rigid thiophene-bis-pyridyl-bis-amide-based coordination polymers, namely, [Zn(3-bptpa)(1,3-BDC)]·DMA·2H{sub 2}O (1), [Zn(3-bptpa)(5-MIP)] (2), [Cd(3-bptpa)(1,3-BDC)]·2H{sub 2}O (3) and [Cd(3-bptpa)(5-MIP)]·4H{sub 2}O (4) (3-bptpa=N,N′-bis(pyridine-3-yl)thiophene-2,5-dicarboxamide, 1,3-H{sub 2}BDC=1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 5-H{sub 2}MIP=5-methylisophthalic acid, DMA=N,N-dimethylacetamide), were solvothermally/hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, IR spectra, UV–vis diffuse-reflectance spectra (DRS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermal gravimetric analyses (TG). The structural analysis reveals that Zn-complexes 1 and 2 are similar 2D networks. While Cd-complexes 3 and 4 exhibit similar 2-fold interpenetrating 3D α-Po frameworks with the (4{sup 12}·6{sup 3}) topology. The photocatalytic properties for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet light irradiation of the title complexes have been investigated in detail. Furthermore, the luminescent sensing behaviors for metal cations of 1–4 have been studied, the results indicate that 3 is an excellent fluorescent probe, with high sensitivity, selectivity, and simple regeneration, for environmentally relevant Fe{sup 3+} ions. - Graphical abstract: Four Zn{sup II}/Cd{sup II} coordination polymers with a thiophene-pyridyl-amide ligand have been prepared. The photocatalytic activities and fluorescent sensing properties for metal ions of the title complexes have been investigated. - Highlights: • Four coordination polymers with thiophene-pyridyl-amide ligands have been obtained. • The central metal ions play an important role in the formation of the frameworks. • The photoluminescent sensing and the photocatalytic properties have been investigated.

Semi-Autonomous Systems Laboratory

Data.gov (United States)

Federal Laboratory Consortium — VisionThe Semi-Autonomous Systems Lab focuses on developing a comprehensive framework for semi-autonomous coordination of networked robotic systems. Semi-autonomous...

Semi-empirical neural network models of controlled dynamical systems

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Mihail V. Egorchev

2017-12-01

Full Text Available A simulation approach is discussed for maneuverable aircraft motion as nonlinear controlled dynamical system under multiple and diverse uncertainties including knowledge imperfection concerning simulated plant and its environment exposure. The suggested approach is based on a merging of theoretical knowledge for the plant with training tools of artificial neural network field. The efficiency of this approach is demonstrated using the example of motion modeling and the identification of the aerodynamic characteristics of a maneuverable aircraft. A semi-empirical recurrent neural network based model learning algorithm is proposed for multi-step ahead prediction problem. This algorithm sequentially states and solves numerical optimization subproblems of increasing complexity, using each solution as initial guess for subsequent subproblem. We also consider a procedure for representative training set acquisition that utilizes multisine control signals.

Covalently crosslinked diels-alder polymer networks.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bowman, Christopher (University of Colorado, Boulder, CO); Adzima, Brian J. (University of Colorado, Boulder, CO); Anderson, Benjamin John

2011-09-01

This project examines the utility of cycloaddition reactions for the synthesis of polymer networks. Cycloaddition reactions are desirable because they produce no unwanted side reactions or small molecules, allowing for the formation of high molecular weight species and glassy crosslinked networks. Both the Diels-Alder reaction and the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) were studied. Accomplishments include externally triggered healing of a thermoreversible covalent network via self-limited hysteresis heating, the creation of Diels-Alder based photoresists, and the successful photochemical catalysis of CuAAC as an alternative to the use of ascorbic acid for the generation of Cu(I) in click reactions. An analysis of the results reveals that these new methods offer the promise of efficiently creating robust, high molecular weight species and delicate three dimensional structures that incorporate chemical functionality in the patterned material. This work was performed under a Strategic Partnerships LDRD during FY10 and FY11 as part of a Sandia National Laboratories/University of Colorado-Boulder Excellence in Science and Engineering Fellowship awarded to Brian J. Adzima, a graduate student at UC-Boulder. Benjamin J. Anderson (Org. 1833) was the Sandia National Laboratories point-of-contact for this fellowship.

Biomimetic oral mucin from polymer micelle networks

Science.gov (United States)

Authimoolam, Sundar Prasanth

-functional implant coats. KEYWORDS: Biomimic, Bioapplication, Drug delivery, Filomicelle, Mucin, Polymer networks.

Exact critical properties of two-dimensional polymer networks from conformal invariance

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Duplantier, B.

1988-03-01

An infinity of exact critical exponents for two-dimensional self-avoiding walks can be derived from conformal invariance and Coulomb gas techniques applied to the O(n) model and to the Potts model. They apply to polymer networks of any topology, for which a general scaling theory is given, valid in any dimension d. The infinite set of exponents has also been calculated to O(ε 2 ), for d=4-ε. The 2D study also includes other universality classes like the dense polymers, the Hamiltonian walks, the polymers at their θ-point. Exact correlation functions can be further given for Hamiltonian walks, and exact winding angle probability distributions for the self-avoiding walks

Ion deceleration in interpenetrating plasma jets

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Renner, O.; Krousky, E.; Larroche, O.; Liska, R.

2010-01-01

Complete text of publication follows. Inertial and magnetic confinement fusion schemes involve collisions of high-temperature plasma jets and their interaction with solid surfaces (the so-called plasma-wall interaction, PWI). A fundamental understanding of the PWI effects requires a detailed characterization of the transient collisional phenomena occurring in the interaction region. In this paper we discuss a PWI experiment with double-foil Al/Mg targets fielded at the PALS laser system. An energetic plasma jet was created at the rear (non-irradiated) side of the 0.8-μm-thick Al foil exploded by the main laser beam (50-200 J, 0.44/1.315 μm, 0.25-0.3 ns, 16 W/cm 2 ). This plasma jet streamed towards the 2-μm-thick Mg foil, where the secondary plasma was created either by an auxiliary 5 J laser beam or by the main laser radiation transmitted through the Al foil, together with radiation and particles emitted from the Al foil. The environmental conditions in the plasma were diagnosed by means of high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy and temporally-resolved x-ray imaging. For the first time, the deceleration of the incident Al ions in the near-wall region was directly observed and quantitatively characterized from the Doppler shift of the J-satellite from the Al Lyα spectral group. The interaction scenario was numerically modeled by two concerted codes, namely, i) the Prague Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian 2-D code PALE, which solves the Lagrangian mesh distortions by smoothing and conservative remapping of conserved quantities, and ii) the multispecies 1.5-D code MULTIF which models the hydrodynamics of an arbitrary number of interpenetrating ion species in a single space dimension while assuming self-similar plasma expansion in the other directions, and taking into account detailed Coulombian collisional processes. PALE was used to model two counter-streaming Al/Mg plasma plumes until the beginning of their interaction, and the resulting plasma state was then used as

Depression of Glass Transition Temperatures of Polymer Networks by Diluents

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Brinke, Gerrit ten; Karasz, Frank E.; Ellis, Thomas S.

1983-01-01

A classical thermodynamic theory is used to derive expressions for the depression of the glass transition temperature Tg of a polymer network by a diluent. The enhanced sensitivity of Tg in cross-linked systems to small amounts of diluent is explained. Predictions of the theory are in satisfactory

Cross-Linked Liquid Crystalline Systems From Rigid Polymer Networks to Elastomers

CERN Document Server

Broer, Dirk

2011-01-01

With rapidly expanding interest in liquid crystalline polymers and elastomers among the liquid crystal community, researchers are currently exploring the wide range of possible application areas for these unique materials, including optical elements on displays, tunable lasers, strain gauges, micro-structures, and artificial muscles. Written by respected scientists from academia and industry around the world, who are not only active in the field but also well-known in more traditional areas of research, "Cross-Linked Liquid Crystalline Systems: From Rigid Polymer Networks to Elastomers&qu

Interlaminar Toughening of Fiber Reinforced Polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Bian, Dakai

Modification in the resin-rich region between plies, also known as the interlaminar region, was investigated to increase the toughness of laminate composites structures. To achieve suitable modifications, the complexities of the physical and chemical processes during the resin curing procedure must be studied. This includes analyses of the interactions among the co-dependent microstructure, process parameters, and material responses. This dissertation seeks to investigate these interactions via a series of experimental and numerical analyses of the geometric- and temperature-based effects on locally interleaving toughening methods and further interlaminar synergistic toughening without interleaf. Two major weaknesses in composite materials are the brittle resin-rich interlaminar region which forms between the fiber plies after resin infusion, and the ply dropoff region which introduces stress concentration under loads. To address these weaknesses and increase the delamination resistance of the composite specimens, a dual bonding process was explored to alleviate the dropoff effect and toughen the interlaminar region. Hot melt bonding was investigated by applying clamping pressure to ductile thermoplastic interleaf and fiber fabric at an elevated temperature, while diffusion bonding between thermoplastic interleaf and thermoset resin is performed during the resin infusion. This method increased the fracture energy level and thus delamination resistance in the interlaminar region because of deep interleaf penetration into fiber bundles which helped confining crack propagation in the toughened area. The diffusion and precipitation between thermosets and thermoplastics also improved the delamination resistance by forming a semi-interpenetration networks. This phenomenon was investigated in concoctions of low-concentration polystyrene additive modified epoxy system, which facilitates diffusion and precipitation without increasing the viscosity of the system

Radiation synthesis and characterisation of the network structure of natural/synthetic double-network superabsorbent polymers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Şen, Murat; Hayrabolulu, Hande

2012-01-01

In this study radiation synthesis and characterisation of the network structure of acrylic acid sodium salt/locust bean gum, (AAcNa/LBG) natural/synthetic double-network super absorbent polymers were investigated. Quartet systems composed of acrylic acid sodium salt/locust bean gum/N,N methylene bis acrylamide/water (AAcNa/LBG/MBAAm/water) were prepared at varying degree of neutralisations (DN) by controlling the DN value of AAc and irradiated with gamma rays at ambient temperature at a very low dose rate. The influences of the DN on the swelling and network properties were examined. It was observed that the DN strongly affected the gelation and super absorption properties of the gels. Molecular weight between crosslinks (M ¯ c ), effective crosslink density (ν e ) and mesh size (ξ) of SAPs were calculated from swelling and shear modules data obtained from compression and oscillatory frequency sweep tests. M ¯ c values obtained from the uniaxial deformation experiments were very close to those obtained from the oscillatory shear experiments excluding the completely neutralised gel system. It was concluded that the uniaxial compression technique could be used for the characterisation of the network structure of a hydrogel as along with the rheological analyses; however, a very precise control of the gel size was also needed. - Highlights: ► Radiation synthesis and characterisation of AAcNa/LBG super absorbent polymers described. ► Influences of the DN on the swelling and network properties were examined. ► Molecular weight between crosslinks and effective crosslink density of SAPs were calculated. ► Suitability of rheology technique for the characterisation of hydrogels were demonstrated.

Finite-Time Nonfragile Synchronization of Stochastic Complex Dynamical Networks with Semi-Markov Switching Outer Coupling

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Rathinasamy Sakthivel

2018-01-01

Full Text Available The problem of robust nonfragile synchronization is investigated in this paper for a class of complex dynamical networks subject to semi-Markov jumping outer coupling, time-varying coupling delay, randomly occurring gain variation, and stochastic noise over a desired finite-time interval. In particular, the network topology is assumed to follow a semi-Markov process such that it may switch from one to another at different instants. In this paper, the random gain variation is represented by a stochastic variable that is assumed to satisfy the Bernoulli distribution with white sequences. Based on these hypotheses and the Lyapunov-Krasovskii stability theory, a new finite-time stochastic synchronization criterion is established for the considered network in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Moreover, the control design parameters that guarantee the required criterion are computed by solving a set of linear matrix inequality constraints. An illustrative example is finally given to show the effectiveness and advantages of the developed analytical results.

Influence of Ethylene Glycol Methacrylate to the Hydration and Transition Behaviors of Thermo-Responsive Interpenetrating Polymeric Network Hydrogels

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Bing Li

2018-01-01

Full Text Available The influence of ethylene glycol methacrylate (EGMA to the hydration and transition behaviors of thermo-responsive interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN hydrogels containing sodium alginate, N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm, and EGMA were investigated. The molar ratios of NIPAAm and EGMA were varied from 20:0 to 19.5:0.5 and 18.5:1.5 in the thermo-responsive alginate-Ca2+/P(NIPAAm-co-EGMA IPN hydrogels. Due to the more hydrophilicity and high flexibility of EGMA, the IPN hydrogels exhibited higher lower critical solution temperature (LCST and lower glass transition temperature (Tg when the ratio of EGMA increases. The swelling/deswelling kinetics of the IPN hydrogels could be controlled by adjusting the NIPAAm/EGMA molar ratio. A faster water uptake rate and a slower water loss rate could be realized by increase the amount of EGMA in the IPN hydrogel (the shrinking rate constant was decreased from 0.01207 to 0.01195 and 0.01055 with the changing of NIPAAm/EGMA ratio from 20:0, 19.5:0.5 to 18.5:1.5. By using 2-Isopropylthioxanthone (ITX as a photo initiator, the obtained alginate-Ca2+/P(NIPAAm-co-EGMA360 IPN hydrogels were successfully immobilized on cotton fabrics. The surface and cross section of the hydrogel were probed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM. They all exhibited a porous structure, and the pore size was increased with the amount of EGMA. Moreover, the LCST values of the fabric-grafted hydrogels were close to those of the pure IPN hydrogels. Their thermal sensitivity remained unchanged. The cotton fabrics grafted with hydrogel turned out to be much softer with the continuous increase of EGMA amount. Therefore, compared with alginate-Ca2+/PNIPAAm hydrogel, alginate-Ca2+/P(NIPAAm-co-EGMA360 hydrogel is a more promising candidate for wound dressing in the field of biomedical textile.

Transition state analogue imprinted polymers as artificial amidases for amino acid p-nitroanilides: morphological effects of polymer network on catalytic efficiency.

Science.gov (United States)

Mathew, Divya; Thomas, Benny; Devaky, K S

2017-11-13

The morphology of the polymer network - porous/less porous - plays predominant role in the amidase activities of the polymer catalysts in the hydrolytic reactions of amino acid p-nitroanilides. Polymers with the imprints of stable phosphonate analogue of the intermediate of hydrolytic reactions were synthesized as enzyme mimics. Molecular imprinting was carried out in thermodynamically stable porogen dimethyl sulphoxide and unstable porogen chloroform, to investigate the morphological effects of polymers on catalytic amidolysis. It was found that the medium of polymerization has vital influence in the amidase activities of the enzyme mimics. The morphological studies of the polymer catalysts were carried out by scanning electron microscopy and Bruner-Emmett-Teller analysis. The morphology of the polymer catalysts and their amidase activities are found to be dependent on the composition of reaction medium. The polymer catalyst prepared in dimethyl sulphoxide is observed to be efficient in 1:9 acetonitrile (ACN)-Tris HCl buffer and that prepared in chloroform is noticed to be stereo specifically and shape-selectively effective in 9:1 ACN-Tris HCl buffer. The solvent memory effect in catalytic amidolysis was investigated using the polymer prepared in acetonitrile.

Composite Polymer Electrolytes: Nanoparticles Affect Structure and Properties

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Wei Wang

2016-11-01

Full Text Available Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs can significantly improve the performance in electrochemical devices such as lithium-ion batteries. This review summarizes property/performance relationships in the case where nanoparticles are introduced to polymer electrolytes. It is the aim of this review to provide a knowledge network that elucidates the role of nano-additives in the CPEs. Central to the discussion is the impact on the CPE performance of properties such as crystalline/amorphous structure, dielectric behavior, and interactions within the CPE. The amorphous domains of semi-crystalline polymer facilitate the ion transport, while an enhanced mobility of polymer chains contributes to high ionic conductivity. Dielectric properties reflect the relaxation behavior of polymer chains as an important factor in ion conduction. Further, the dielectric constant (ε determines the capability of the polymer to dissolve salt. The atom/ion/nanoparticle interactions within CPEs suggest ways to enhance the CPE conductivity by generating more free lithium ions. Certain properties can be improved simultaneously by nanoparticle addition in order to optimize the overall performance of the electrolyte. The effects of nano-additives on thermal and mechanical properties of CPEs are also presented in order to evaluate the electrolyte competence for lithium-ion battery applications.

Semi-metallic, strong conductive polymer microfiber, method and fast response rate actuators and heating textiles

KAUST Repository

Zhou, Jian; Li, Er Qiang; Lubineau, Gilles; Thoroddsen, Sigurdur T; Mulle, Matthieu

2016-01-01

A method comprising: providing at least one first composition comprising at least one conjugated polymer and at least one solvent, wet spinning the at least one first composition to form at least one first fiber material, hot-drawing the at least one fiber to form at least one second fiber material. In lead embodiments, high-performance poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy- thiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) conjugated polymer microfibers were fabricated via wet- spinning followed by hot-drawing. In these lead embodiments, due to the combined effects of the vertical hot-drawing process and doping/de-doping the microfibers with ethylene glycol (EG), a record electrical conductivity of 2804 S · cm-1 was achieved. This is believed to be a six-fold improvement over the best previously reported value for PEDOT/PSS fibers (467 S · cm-1) and a twofold improvement over the best values for conductive polymer films treated by EG de-doping (1418 S · cm-1). Moreover, these lead, highly conductive fibers experience a semiconductor-metal transition at 313 K. They also have superior mechanical properties with a Young's modulus up to 8.3 GPa, a tensile strength reaching 409.8 MPa and a large elongation before failure (21%). The most conductive fiber also demonstrates an extraordinary electrical performance during stretching/unstretching: the conductivity increased by 25% before the fiber rupture point with a maximum strain up to 21%. Simple fabrication of the semi-metallic, strong and stretchable wet-spun PEDOT/PSS microfibers can make them available for conductive smart electronics. A dramatic improvement in electrical conductivity is needed to make conductive polymer fibers viable candidates in applications such as flexible electrodes, conductive textiles, and fast-response sensors and actuators.

Semi-metallic, strong conductive polymer microfiber, method and fast response rate actuators and heating textiles

KAUST Repository

Zhou, Jian

2016-06-09

A method comprising: providing at least one first composition comprising at least one conjugated polymer and at least one solvent, wet spinning the at least one first composition to form at least one first fiber material, hot-drawing the at least one fiber to form at least one second fiber material. In lead embodiments, high-performance poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy- thiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) conjugated polymer microfibers were fabricated via wet- spinning followed by hot-drawing. In these lead embodiments, due to the combined effects of the vertical hot-drawing process and doping/de-doping the microfibers with ethylene glycol (EG), a record electrical conductivity of 2804 S · cm-1 was achieved. This is believed to be a six-fold improvement over the best previously reported value for PEDOT/PSS fibers (467 S · cm-1) and a twofold improvement over the best values for conductive polymer films treated by EG de-doping (1418 S · cm-1). Moreover, these lead, highly conductive fibers experience a semiconductor-metal transition at 313 K. They also have superior mechanical properties with a Young\\'s modulus up to 8.3 GPa, a tensile strength reaching 409.8 MPa and a large elongation before failure (21%). The most conductive fiber also demonstrates an extraordinary electrical performance during stretching/unstretching: the conductivity increased by 25% before the fiber rupture point with a maximum strain up to 21%. Simple fabrication of the semi-metallic, strong and stretchable wet-spun PEDOT/PSS microfibers can make them available for conductive smart electronics. A dramatic improvement in electrical conductivity is needed to make conductive polymer fibers viable candidates in applications such as flexible electrodes, conductive textiles, and fast-response sensors and actuators.

Integration of conducting polymer network in non-conductive polymer substrates

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Hansen, Thomas Steen; West, Keld; Hassager, Ole

2006-01-01

Anew method for integration ofconjugated, inherently conducting polymers into non-conductive polymer substrates has been developed. Alayer of the conducting polymer is polymerised by chemical oxidation, e.g. using Fe(ID) p-toluene sulfonate (ferri tosylate) followed by washing with a solvent which...... simultaneously removes residual and spent oxidant and at the same time dissolves the top layer of the polymer substrate. This results in an integration of the conducting polymer into the surface layers of the polymer substrate. Several combinations of conducting polymers and substrates have been tested...... absorption during sequential reactive ion etching has allowed for analysis of the PEDOT distribution within the surface layer of thePMMA substrate. The surface resistance ofthe conducting polymer layer remains low while the surface layer at the same time adapts some of the mechanical properties...

Dielectric Actuation of Polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Niu, Xiaofan

Dielectric polymers are widely used in a plurality of applications, such as electrical insulation, dielectric capacitors, and electromechanical actuators. Dielectric polymers with large strain deformations under an electric field are named dielectric elastomers (DE), because of their relative low modulus, high elongation at break, and outstanding resilience. Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) are superior to traditional transducers as a muscle-like technology: large strains, high energy densities, high coupling efficiency, quiet operation, and light weight. One focus of this dissertation is on the design of DE materials with high performance and easy processing. UV radiation curing of reactive species is studied as a generic synthesis methodology to provide a platform for material scientists to customize their own DE materials. Oligomers/monomers, crosslinkers, and other additives are mixed and cured at appropriate ratios to control the stress-strain response, suppress electromechanical instability of the resulting polymers, and provide stable actuation strains larger than 100% and energy densities higher than 1 J/g. The processing is largely simplified in the new material system by removal of the prestretching step. Multilayer stack actuators with 11% linear strain are demonstrated in a procedure fully compatible with industrial production. A multifunctional DE derivative material, bistable electroactive polymer (BSEP), is invented enabling repeatable rigid-to-rigid deformation without bulky external structures. Bistable actuation allows the polymer actuator to have two distinct states that can support external load without device failure. Plasticizers are used to lower the glass transition temperature to 45 °C. Interpenetrating polymer network structure is established inside the BSEP to suppress electromechanical instability, providing a breakdown field of 194 MV/m and a stable bistable strain as large as 228% with a 97% strain fixity. The application of BSEP

Picot-Benoit Effect in Polymer Solutions

Science.gov (United States)

Beaucage, Gregory; Sukumaran, Sathish; Ilavsky, Jan

2003-03-01

SAXS from polymers in solution is well described at intermediate (q = 0.01-0.1 Å-1) scattering vectors by scaling theory which predicts three regimes in concentration: dilute, semi-dilute and concentrated [1-3]. A persistent problem is the appearance of excess scattering at low-q, q molecular weight dependence for these fluctuations in the dilute and semi-dilute regimes. The later is unexpected since above c* scaling theory predicts no M dependencies due to screening [1-3]. The literature associates PB features with semi-dilute and concentrated solutions, yet we have observed excess scattering even in dilute solutions of polystyrene in cyclopentane. 1) de Gennes P-G, Scaling Concepts in Polymer Physics, 1979. 2) Strobl G, The Physics of Polymers, Berlin 1997. 3) Doi M, Introduction to Polymer Physics, Oxford 1997. 4) Benoit H, Picot C Pure Appl. Chem. 12 545 (1966). 5) Benoit H, Picot C Pure Appl. Chem. 12 1271 (1966). 6) Xie Y, et al. Physica A 232 94 (1996). 7) Korberstein JT, et al. Polymer 26 673 (1985). 8) Morfin I, et al. Macromolecules 32 7208 (1999). 9) Blanco CM, et al. Langmuir 16 8585 (2000).

Effect of fillers on parameters of dry and swollen polymer matrix networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Stojčeva-Radovanović Blaga

2002-01-01

Full Text Available The effect of nano- and micro- particle size of SiO2 on dry and swollen parameter network of the polymer matrix blends of acrylontrile-butadiene (NBR and chlorosulphonated polyethylene (CSM such as: volume and mass degree of swelling Rv and Rw; volume fraction of NBR-CSM polymer matrix in swollen gel V2 elasticity modulus G; interaction parameter between NBR-CSM polymer matrix and solvent λ and crossiinking density ν, was tested. The influence of nano-and micro- particle size of SiO2 on physical and mechanical properties, as well as effectiveness volume ratio of filiers in NBR-CSM polymer matrix at 300% elongation was tested using Einstein-Quth-Gold equation. The Kraus equation for swelling test of NBR-CSM polymer matrix containing nano- and micro- particle size of SiO2. Test results have shown that a greater interaction of nano-particie size of SiO2 with NBR-CSM polymer matrix, and possible chemical bonding, than the one of micro-silica was a consequence of a greater contact area. This results in better physical and mechanical properties.

High-Speed 3D Printing of High-Performance Thermosetting Polymers via Two-Stage Curing.

Science.gov (United States)

Kuang, Xiao; Zhao, Zeang; Chen, Kaijuan; Fang, Daining; Kang, Guozheng; Qi, Hang Jerry

2018-04-01

Design and direct fabrication of high-performance thermosets and composites via 3D printing are highly desirable in engineering applications. Most 3D printed thermosetting polymers to date suffer from poor mechanical properties and low printing speed. Here, a novel ink for high-speed 3D printing of high-performance epoxy thermosets via a two-stage curing approach is presented. The ink containing photocurable resin and thermally curable epoxy resin is used for the digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. After printing, the part is thermally cured at elevated temperature to yield an interpenetrating polymer network epoxy composite, whose mechanical properties are comparable to engineering epoxy. The printing speed is accelerated by the continuous liquid interface production assisted DLP 3D printing method, achieving a printing speed as high as 216 mm h -1 . It is also demonstrated that 3D printing structural electronics can be achieved by combining the 3D printed epoxy composites with infilled silver ink in the hollow channels. The new 3D printing method via two-stage curing combines the attributes of outstanding printing speed, high resolution, low volume shrinkage, and excellent mechanical properties, and provides a new avenue to fabricate 3D thermosetting composites with excellent mechanical properties and high efficiency toward high-performance and functional applications. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Physical Properties of Polymers (Ultrastructure Processing of Polymers)

Science.gov (United States)

1982-09-30

vinyl benzene Network-Diluent Systems". 17. J . Appl. Polym. Sci. 28, 219-224 (1983) (with R. Vukovic and W.J. MacKnight) "Compatibility of Some...Temperature of Polymer Networks by Dil uents". 23. J . Appl. Polym. Sci. 28, 1379-1389 (1983) (with R. Vukovic , V. Kuresevic, N. Segudovic, and W.J...AFOSR 80-0101 IV. DATES: 1 January 1980 - 30 September 1982 V. SENIOR RESEARCH PERSONNEL*: Dr. C. Crosby Dr. G. ten Brinke Dr. T. Ellis Dr. R. Vukovic

Shape memory polymers

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wilson, Thomas S.; Bearinger, Jane P.

2017-08-29

New shape memory polymer compositions, methods for synthesizing new shape memory polymers, and apparatus comprising an actuator and a shape memory polymer wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least a portion of the actuator. A shape memory polymer comprising a polymer composition which physically forms a network structure wherein the polymer composition has shape-memory behavior and can be formed into a permanent primary shape, re-formed into a stable secondary shape, and controllably actuated to recover the permanent primary shape. Polymers have optimal aliphatic network structures due to minimization of dangling chains by using monomers that are symmetrical and that have matching amine and hydroxl groups providing polymers and polymer foams with clarity, tight (narrow temperature range) single transitions, and high shape recovery and recovery force that are especially useful for implanting in the human body.

Shape memory polymers

Science.gov (United States)

Wilson, Thomas S.; Bearinger, Jane P.

2015-06-09

New shape memory polymer compositions, methods for synthesizing new shape memory polymers, and apparatus comprising an actuator and a shape memory polymer wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least a portion of the actuator. A shape memory polymer comprising a polymer composition which physically forms a network structure wherein the polymer composition has shape-memory behavior and can be formed into a permanent primary shape, re-formed into a stable secondary shape, and controllably actuated to recover the permanent primary shape. Polymers have optimal aliphatic network structures due to minimization of dangling chains by using monomers that are symmetrical and that have matching amine and hydroxyl groups providing polymers and polymer foams with clarity, tight (narrow temperature range) single transitions, and high shape recovery and recovery force that are especially useful for implanting in the human body.

Subsurface imaging of carbon nanotube networks in polymers with DC-biased multifrequency dynamic atomic force microscopy.

Science.gov (United States)

Thompson, Hank T; Barroso-Bujans, Fabienne; Herrero, Julio Gomez; Reifenberger, Ron; Raman, Arvind

2013-04-05

The characterization of dispersion and connectivity of carbon nanotube (CNT) networks inside polymers is of great interest in polymer nanocomposites in new material systems, organic photovoltaics, and in electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors. We focus on a technique using amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy (AM-AFM) in the attractive regime of operation, using both single and dual mode excitation, which upon the application of a DC tip bias voltage allows, via the phase channel, the in situ, nanoscale, subsurface imaging of CNT networks dispersed in a polymer matrix at depths of 10-100 nm. We present an in-depth study of the origins of phase contrast in this technique and demonstrate that an electrical energy dissipation mechanism in the Coulomb attractive regime is key to the formation of the phase contrast which maps the spatial variations in the local capacitance and resistance due to the CNT network. We also note that dual frequency excitation can, under some conditions, improve the contrast for such samples. These methods open up the possibility for DC-biased amplitude modulation AFM to be used for mapping the variations in local capacitance and resistance in nanocomposites with conducting networks.

Mesoscopic Simulations of Crosslinked Polymer Networks

Science.gov (United States)

Megariotis, Grigorios; Vogiatzis, Georgios G.; Schneider, Ludwig; Müller, Marcus; Theodorou, Doros N.

2016-08-01

A new methodology and the corresponding C++ code for mesoscopic simulations of elastomers are presented. The test system, crosslinked ds-1’4-polyisoprene’ is simulated with a Brownian Dynamics/kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm as a dense liquid of soft, coarse-grained beads, each representing 5-10 Kuhn segments. From the thermodynamic point of view, the system is described by a Helmholtz free-energy containing contributions from entropic springs between successive beads along a chain, slip-springs representing entanglements between beads on different chains, and non-bonded interactions. The methodology is employed for the calculation of the stress relaxation function from simulations of several microseconds at equilibrium, as well as for the prediction of stress-strain curves of crosslinked polymer networks under deformation.

1D helix, 2D brick-wall and herringbone, and 3D interpenetration d10 metal-organic framework structures assembled from pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid N-oxide.

Science.gov (United States)

Wen, Li-Li; Dang, Dong-Bin; Duan, Chun-Ying; Li, Yi-Zhi; Tian, Zheng-Fang; Meng, Qing-Jin

2005-10-03

Five novel interesting d(10) metal coordination polymers, [Zn(PDCO)(H2O)2]n (PDCO = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid N-oxide) (1), [Zn2(PDCO)2(4,4'-bpy)2(H2O)2.3H2O]n (bpy = bipyridine) (2), [Zn(PDCO)(bix)]n (bix = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene) (3), [Zn(PDCO)(bbi).0.5H2O]n (bbi = 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)) (4), and [Cd(PDCO)(bix)(1.5).1.5H2O]n (5), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized. Polymer 1 possesses a one-dimensional (1D) helical chainlike structure with 4(1) helices running along the c-axis with a pitch of 10.090 Angstroms. Polymer 2 has an infinite chiral two-dimensional (2D) brick-wall-like layer structure in the ac plane built from achiral components, while both 3 and 4 exhibit an infinite 2D herringbone architecture, respectively extended in the ac and ab plane. Polymer 5 features a most remarkable and unique three-dimensional (3D) porous framework with 2-fold interpenetration related by symmetry, which contains channels in the b and c directions, both distributed in a rectangular grid fashion. Compounds 1-5, with systematic variation in dimensionality from 1D to 2D to 3D, are the first examples of d(10) metal coordination polymers into which pyridinedicarboxylic acid N-oxide has been introduced. In addition, polymers 1, 4, and 5 display strong blue fluorescent emissions in the solid state. Polymer 3 exhibits a strong SHG response, estimated to be approximately 0.9 times that of urea.

Reversible networks in supramolecular polymers

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Havermans - van Beek, D.J.M.

2007-01-01

Non–covalent interactions between low molecular weight polymers form the basis of supramolecular polymers. The material properties of such polymers are determined by the strength and lifetime of the non–covalent reversible interactions. Due to the reversibility of the interactions between the low

Synthesis, ionic conductivity, and thermal properties of proton conducting polymer electrolyte for high temperature fuel cell

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Itoh, Takahito; Hamaguchi, Yohei; Uno, Takahiro; Kubo, Masataka [Department of Chemistry for Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Mie University, 1577 Kurima Machiya-cho, Tsu, Mie 514-8507 (Japan); Aihara, Yuichi; Sonai, Atsuo [Samsung Yokohama Research Institute, 2-7 Sugasawa-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0027 (Japan)

2006-01-16

Hyperbranched polymer (poly-1a) with sulfonic acid groups at the end of chains was successfully synthesized. Interpenetration reaction of poly-1a with a hyperbranched polymer with acryloyl groups at the end of chains (poly-1b) as a cross-linker afforded a tough electrolyte membrane. The poly-1a and the resulting electrolyte membrane showed the ionic conductivities of 7x10{sup -4} and 8x10{sup -5} S/cm, respectively, at 150C under dry condition. The ionic conductivities of the poly-1a and the electrolyte membrane exhibited the VTF type temperature dependence. And also, both poly-1a and the resulting electrolyte membrane were thermally stable up to 200C. (author)

Associating Polymer Networks Based on Cyclodextrin Inclusion Compounds for Heavy Oil Recovery

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Xi Li

2018-01-01

Full Text Available This work evaluates an approach to improve the enhanced heavy oil recovery performance of hydrophobic associating polymer. A polymeric system based on water-soluble hydrophobic associating polymer (WSHAP and cyclodextrin (CD polymer was proposed in this work. Addition of CD polymer to WSHAP forms interpolymer bridges by inclusion of CD groups with hydrophobic tails, and thereby the network structure is strengthened. The proposed system offers good viscoelasticity, pronounced shear thinning, and interesting viscosity-temperature relations. Sand pack tests indicated that the proposed system can build high resistance factor during the propagation in porous media, and its moderate adsorption phenomenon was represented by the thickness of the adsorbed layer. The relationship between effective viscosity and oil recovery increment indicated that the proposed system can significantly reduce the residual oil saturation due to the “piston-like” propagation. The overall oil recovery was raised by 5.7 and 24.5% of the original oil in place compared with WSHAP and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM, respectively.

Implementation of a submicrometer patterning technique in azopolymer films towards optimization of photovoltaic solar cells efficiency

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cocoyer, C.; Rocha, L.; Fiorini-Debuisschert, C.; Sicot, L.; Vaufrey, D.; Sentein, C.; Geffroy, B.; Raimond, P.

2006-01-01

The weak absorption of the photoactive layer appears as a one of the main factors limiting organic photovoltaic solar cells performances. In order to increase the interaction of the incident light with the photoactive materials, we investigate the effect of a periodic patterning of the solar cells surface with microstructures in the optical wavelength scale. In this aim, we present an original all optical patterning technique of polymer films. The method is based on a laser controlled mass transport in azopolymer films leading to efficient deformation of the film surface in conjunction with the incoming light interference pattern. The technique is used to pattern one-dimensional gratings on the surface of solar cells. In the work presented here, the cell photoactive material is based on the interpenetrated network of a conjugated donor polymer and a fullerene derivative. The cells investigated are illuminated in a reverse configuration through a semi-transparent top cathode. The effect of the periodic structures onto the incident light propagation has been investigated through optical characterizations. We demonstrate that a part of the incident light can be trapped inside the solar cell layers due to diffraction onto the periodic structures

An equal force theory for network models of soft materials with arbitrary molecular weight distribution

Science.gov (United States)

Verron, E.; Gros, A.

2017-09-01

Most network models for soft materials, e.g. elastomers and gels, are dedicated to idealized materials: all chains admit the same number of Kuhn segments. Nevertheless, such standard models are not appropriate for materials involving multiple networks, and some specific constitutive equations devoted to these materials have been derived in the last few years. In nearly all cases, idealized networks of different chain lengths are assembled following an equal strain assumption; only few papers adopt an equal stress assumption, although some authors argue that such hypothesis would reflect the equilibrium of the different networks in contact. In this work, a full-network model with an arbitrary chain length distribution is derived by considering that chains of different lengths satisfy the equal force assumption in each direction of the unit sphere. The derivation is restricted to non-Gaussian freely jointed chains and to affine deformation of the sphere. Firstly, after a proper definition of the undeformed configuration of the network, we demonstrate that the equal force assumption leads to the equality of a normalized stretch in chains of different lengths. Secondly, we establish that the network with chain length distribution behaves as an idealized full-network of which both chain length and density of are provided by the chain length distribution. This approach is finally illustrated with two examples: the derivation of a new expression for the Young modulus of bimodal interpenetrated polymer networks, and the prediction of the change in fluorescence during deformation of mechanochemically responsive elastomers.

Synthesis of Nanometer-Sized Poly (methyl methacrylate) Polymer Network by Gold Nanoparticle Template

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Fu-Ken; Hsieh, Shang-Yu; Ko, Fu-Hsiang; Chu, Tieh-Chi; Dai, Bau-Tong

2003-06-01

Gold nanoparticle/polymer composites have been produced using a one-system polymer synthesis. The linear polymer, poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, MW = 15,000 g/mol) is applied for the stabilization of gold nanoparticles. The Fourier transfer infrared (FT-IR) analysis data and transition electron microscopy (TEM) image reveal that the core shell structure of gold/PMMA nanocomposite has been synthesized. The ratio of the concentration of the capping polymer material to the concentration of the gold precursor could control the sizes of gold nanoparticles. With specific concentration of the reductant, the core-shell nanostructure could be fluctuated in order. After heating treatment, the network structure of PMMA capped gold nanoparticles could be synthesized as confirmed by the TEM image. The result indicates that PMMA not only acts as the stabilizer, but also as the bridge of the neighboring gold nanoparticles.

A constitutive law for degrading bioresorbable polymers.

Science.gov (United States)

Samami, Hassan; Pan, Jingzhe

2016-06-01

This paper presents a constitutive law that predicts the changes in elastic moduli, Poisson's ratio and ultimate tensile strength of bioresorbable polymers due to biodegradation. During biodegradation, long polymer chains are cleaved by hydrolysis reaction. For semi-crystalline polymers, the chain scissions also lead to crystallisation. Treating each scission as a cavity and each new crystal as a solid inclusion, a degrading semi-crystalline polymer can be modelled as a continuum solid containing randomly distributed cavities and crystal inclusions. The effective elastic properties of a degrading polymer are calculated using existing theories for such solid and the tensile strength of the degrading polymer is predicted using scaling relations that were developed for porous materials. The theoretical model for elastic properties and the scaling law for strength form a complete constitutive relation for the degrading polymers. It is shown that the constitutive law can capture the trend of the experimental data in the literature for a range of biodegradable polymers fairly well. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thomson scattering measurements of ion interpenetration in cylindrically converging, supersonic magnetized plasma flows

Science.gov (United States)

Swadling, George

2015-11-01

Ion interpenetration driven by high velocity plasma collisions is an important phenomenon in high energy density environments such as the interiors of ICF vacuum hohlraums and fast z-pinches. The presence of magnetic fields frozen into these colliding flows further complicates the interaction dynamics. This talk focuses on an experimental investigation of ion interpenetration in collisions between cylindrically convergent, supersonic, magnetized flows (M ~10, Vflow ~ 100km/s, ni ~ 1017cm-3) . The flows used in this study were plasma ablation streams produced by tungsten wire array z-pinches, driven by the 1.4MA, 240ns Magpie facility at Imperial College, and diagnosed using a combination of optical Thomson scattering, Faraday rotation and interferometry. Optical Thomson scattering (TS) provides time-resolved measurements of local flow velocity and plasma temperature across multiple (7 to 14) spatial positions. TS spectra are recorded simultaneously from multiple directions with respect to the probing beam, resulting in separate measurements of the rates of transverse diffusion and slowing-down of the ion velocity distribution. The measurements demonstrate flow interpenetration through the array axis at early time, and also show an axial deflection of the ions towards the anode. This deflection is induced by a toroidal magnetic field (~ 10T), frozen into the plasma that accumulates near the axis. Measurements obtained later in time show a change in the dynamics of the stream interactions, transitioning towards a collisional, shock-like interaction of the streams, and rapid radial collapse of the magnetized plasma column. The quantitative nature of the spatial profiles of the density, flow velocities and ion temperatures measured in these experiments will allow detailed verification of MHD and PIC codes used by the HEDP community. Work Supported by EPSRC (Grant No. EP/G001324/1), DOE (Cooperative Agreement Nos. DE-F03-02NA00057 & DE-SC-0001063) & Sandia National

Micropore analysis of polymer networks by gas sorption and 129Xe NMR spectroscopy: toward a better understanding of intrinsic microporosity.

Science.gov (United States)

Weber, Jens; Schmidt, Johannes; Thomas, Arne; Böhlmann, Winfried

2010-10-05

The microporosity of two microporous polymer networks is investigated in detail. Both networks are based on a central spirobifluorene motif but have different linker groups, namely, imide and thiophene units. The microporosity of the networks is based on the "polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM)" design strategy. Nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide were used as sorbates in order to analyze the microporosity in greater detail. The gas sorption data was analyzed with respect to important parameters such as specific surface area, pore volume, and pore size (distribution). It is shown that the results can be strongly model dependent and swelling effects have to be regarded. (129)Xe NMR was used as an independent technique for the estimation of the average pore size of the polymer networks. The results indicate that both networks are mainly ultramicroporous (pore sizes microporous matter might have a different micropore size in the solvent swollen/filled state that in the dry state.

Multi-stimulus-responsive shape-memory polymer nanocomposite network cross-linked by cellulose nanocrystals.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Ye; Li, Ying; Yang, Guang; Zheng, Xiaotong; Zhou, Shaobing

2015-02-25

In this study, we developed a thermoresponsive and water-responsive shape-memory polymer nanocomposite network by chemically cross-linking cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The nanocomposite network was fully characterized, including the microstructure, cross-link density, water contact angle, water uptake, crystallinity, thermal properties, and static and dynamic mechanical properties. We found that the PEG[60]-PCL[40]-CNC[10] nanocomposite exhibited excellent thermo-induced and water-induced shape-memory effects in water at 37 °C (close to body temperature), and the introduction of CNC clearly improved the mechanical properties of the mixture of both PEG and PCL polymers with low molecular weights. In addition, Alamar blue assays based on osteoblasts indicated that the nanocomposites possessed good cytocompatibility. Therefore, this thermoresponsive and water-responsive shape-memory nanocomposite could be potentially developed into a new smart biomaterial.

Polymer gels and networks

National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

Osada, Yoshihito; Khokhlov, A. R

2002-01-01

... or magnetic field, etc.). It was realized that not only can polymer gels absorb and hold a considerable volume of liquids, but they can also be forced to expel the absorbed liquid in a controlled manner. Of particular interest are hydrogels, i.e., polymer gels, which swell extensively in water. The most common hydrogels are polyelectrolyte gels: ...

Design of polymer networks by variation of precursor structure and crosslinking regime

Czech Academy of Sciences Publication Activity Database

Dušek, Karel; Dušková, Miroslava; Huybrecht, J.

2003-01-01

Roč. 44, č. 1 (2003), s. 62-63 ISSN 0032-3934. [ACS National Meeting "Crosslinking Materials and Processes"/254./. New Orleans, 23.03.2003-27.03.2003] R&D Projects: GA AV ČR KSK4050111 Keywords : polymer networks * designed precursor * crosslinking Subject RIV: CD - Macromolecular Chemistry

Contact mechanics in glassy polymers

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Breemen, van L.C.A.

2009-01-01

Polymers, primarily semi-crystalline, are widely used in applications where low friction is required; examples are cups in artificial hip joints, bearings and gears. Until now there is no clear indication why some polymers display low friction and others don’t. In this thesis a systematic

Polymer and Water Dynamics in Poly(vinyl alcohol/Poly(methacrylate Networks. A Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Incoherent Neutron Scattering Investigation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Ester Chiessi

2011-10-01

Full Text Available Chemically cross-linked polymer networks of poly(vinyl alcohol/poly(methacrylate form monolitic hydrogels and microgels suitable for biomedical applications, such as in situ tissue replacement and drug delivery. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD simulation and incoherent neutron scattering methods are used to study the local polymer dynamics and the polymer induced modification of water properties in poly(vinyl alcohol/poly(methacrylate hydrogels. This information is particularly relevant when the diffusion of metabolites and drugs is a requirement for the polymer microgel functionality. MD simulations of an atomic detailed model of the junction domain at the experimental hydration degree were carried out at 283, 293 and 313 K. The polymer-water interaction, the polymer connectivity and the water dynamics were investigated as a function of temperature. Simulation results are compared with findings of elastic and quasi-elastic incoherent neutron scattering measurements, experimental approaches which sample the same space-time window of MD simulations. This combined analysis shows a supercooled water component and an increase of hydrophilicity and mobility with temperature of these amphiphilic polymer networks.

Artificial Neural Network Model to Estimate the Viscosity of Polymer Solutions for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Pan-Sang Kang

2016-06-01

Full Text Available Polymer flooding is now considered a technically- and commercially-proven method for enhanced oil recovery (EOR. The viscosity of the injected polymer solution is the key property for successful polymer flooding. Given that the viscosity of a polymer solution has a non-linear relationship with various influential parameters (molecular weight, degree of hydrolysis, polymer concentration, cation concentration of polymer solution, shear rate, temperature and that measurement of viscosity based on these parameters is a time-consuming process, the range of solution samples and the measurement conditions need to be limited and precise. Viscosity estimation of the polymer solution is effective for these purposes. An artificial neural network (ANN was applied to the viscosity estimation of FlopaamTM 3330S, FlopaamTM 3630S and AN-125 solutions, three commonly-used EOR polymers. The viscosities measured and estimated by ANN and the Carreau model using Lee’s correlation, the only method for estimating the viscosity of an EOR polymer solution in unmeasured conditions, were compared. Estimation accuracy was evaluated by the average absolute relative deviation, which has been widely used for accuracy evaluation of the results of ANN models. In all conditions, the accuracy of the ANN model is higher than that of the Carreau model using Lee’s correlation.

Formation of semi-IPN membrane composed of crosslinked SPS-[PVdF-co-HFP/Nafion] for application in DMFC: A fine tuning between crosslinker and initiator

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kumar, Piyush; Kundu, Patit Paban, E-mail: ppk923@yahoo.com

2015-08-15

The semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPN) membrane composed of crosslinked sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) within the host blend of PVdF-co-HFP (Polyvinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) and Nafion has already been tested as a promising polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in terms of improved water uptake, proton conductivity and electrical efficiency for application in the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). These desired results have generated further curiosity about a fine tuning between the contents of divinyl benzene (DVB) as a crosslinker and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator for the optimization of PEM characteristics. It has been observed that an increase in AIBN content leads to an acceptable degree of water uptake, swelling ratio and proton conductivity in PEM, while higher DVB content causes declined methanol crossover, leading to higher membrane selectivity. These two opposing effects are optimized in terms of proton conductivity, tensile strength and membrane selectivity for the membrane consisting of 0.4 wt% of AIBN and 1.2 wt% of DVB. Moreover, the maximum power density obtained for the membrane having optimum selectivity is 56 mW cm{sup −2}, when analyzed at 90 °C. These results indicate that one can achieve a high power density in comparison to Nafion by fine tuning the contents of initiator and cross-linker during the synthesis of the semi-IPN membrane. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • PEM composed of 0.4/1.2 wt% of AIBN/DVB produced best result. • Lower methanol crossover (1.02 × 10{sup −6} cm{sup 2} s{sup −1}) compare to Nafion-117. • Higher membrane selectivity i.e 3.05 × 10{sup 4} Ss cm{sup −3} was obtained. • A maximum power density of 56 mW cm{sup −2} was obtained at 90 °C.

Formation of semi-IPN membrane composed of crosslinked SPS-[PVdF-co-HFP/Nafion] for application in DMFC: A fine tuning between crosslinker and initiator

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kumar, Piyush; Kundu, Patit Paban

2015-01-01

The semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPN) membrane composed of crosslinked sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) within the host blend of PVdF-co-HFP (Polyvinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) and Nafion has already been tested as a promising polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in terms of improved water uptake, proton conductivity and electrical efficiency for application in the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). These desired results have generated further curiosity about a fine tuning between the contents of divinyl benzene (DVB) as a crosslinker and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator for the optimization of PEM characteristics. It has been observed that an increase in AIBN content leads to an acceptable degree of water uptake, swelling ratio and proton conductivity in PEM, while higher DVB content causes declined methanol crossover, leading to higher membrane selectivity. These two opposing effects are optimized in terms of proton conductivity, tensile strength and membrane selectivity for the membrane consisting of 0.4 wt% of AIBN and 1.2 wt% of DVB. Moreover, the maximum power density obtained for the membrane having optimum selectivity is 56 mW cm −2 , when analyzed at 90 °C. These results indicate that one can achieve a high power density in comparison to Nafion by fine tuning the contents of initiator and cross-linker during the synthesis of the semi-IPN membrane. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • PEM composed of 0.4/1.2 wt% of AIBN/DVB produced best result. • Lower methanol crossover (1.02 × 10 −6 cm 2 s −1 ) compare to Nafion-117. • Higher membrane selectivity i.e 3.05 × 10 4 Ss cm −3 was obtained. • A maximum power density of 56 mW cm −2 was obtained at 90 °C

Semi-supervised spectral algorithms for community detection in complex networks based on equivalence of clustering methods

Science.gov (United States)

Ma, Xiaoke; Wang, Bingbo; Yu, Liang

2018-01-01

Community detection is fundamental for revealing the structure-functionality relationship in complex networks, which involves two issues-the quantitative function for community as well as algorithms to discover communities. Despite significant research on either of them, few attempt has been made to establish the connection between the two issues. To attack this problem, a generalized quantification function is proposed for community in weighted networks, which provides a framework that unifies several well-known measures. Then, we prove that the trace optimization of the proposed measure is equivalent with the objective functions of algorithms such as nonnegative matrix factorization, kernel K-means as well as spectral clustering. It serves as the theoretical foundation for designing algorithms for community detection. On the second issue, a semi-supervised spectral clustering algorithm is developed by exploring the equivalence relation via combining the nonnegative matrix factorization and spectral clustering. Different from the traditional semi-supervised algorithms, the partial supervision is integrated into the objective of the spectral algorithm. Finally, through extensive experiments on both artificial and real world networks, we demonstrate that the proposed method improves the accuracy of the traditional spectral algorithms in community detection.

A semi-automatic method for extracting thin line structures in images as rooted tree network

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Brazzini, Jacopo [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Dillard, Scott [Los Alamos National Laboratory; Soille, Pierre [EC - JRC

2010-01-01

This paper addresses the problem of semi-automatic extraction of line networks in digital images - e.g., road or hydrographic networks in satellite images, blood vessels in medical images, robust. For that purpose, we improve a generic method derived from morphological and hydrological concepts and consisting in minimum cost path estimation and flow simulation. While this approach fully exploits the local contrast and shape of the network, as well as its arborescent nature, we further incorporate local directional information about the structures in the image. Namely, an appropriate anisotropic metric is designed by using both the characteristic features of the target network and the eigen-decomposition of the gradient structure tensor of the image. Following, the geodesic propagation from a given seed with this metric is combined with hydrological operators for overland flow simulation to extract the line network. The algorithm is demonstrated for the extraction of blood vessels in a retina image and of a river network in a satellite image.

Photovoltaic properties of conjugated polymer/fullerene composites on large area flexible substrates

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Desta Gebeyehu

2000-06-01

Full Text Available In this paper we present measurements of the photovoltaic response of bulk donor-acceptor heterojunction between the conjugated polymer, poly(3-octylthiophene, P3OT, (as a donor, D and fullerene (methanofullerene, (as acceptor, A, deposited between indium tin oxide and aluminum electrodes. The innovation involves the substrate, which is a polymer foil instead of glass. These devices are based on ultrafast, reversible, metastable photoinduced electron transfer and charge separation. We also present the efficiency and stability studies on large area (6 cm x 6 cm flexible plastic solar cells with monochromatic energy conversion efficiency (e of about 1.5% and carrier collection efficiency of nearly 20%. Further more, we have investigated the surface network morphology of these films layers by atomic force microscope (AFM. The development of solar cells based on composites of organic conjugated semi-conducting polymers with fullerene derivatives can provide a new method in the exploitation of solar energy.

Strain hardening and anisotropy in solid polymers

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Senden, D.J.A.

2013-01-01

Mechanical properties of polymers strongly depend on the underlying microstructure. For instance, processing-induced molecular orientation may, in semi-crystalline polymers, lead to differences in lifetime up to a factor of 500 within a single injection molded product. Furthermore, enormous

Tactile feedback display with spatial and temporal resolutions.

Science.gov (United States)

Vishniakou, Siarhei; Lewis, Brian W; Niu, Xiaofan; Kargar, Alireza; Sun, Ke; Kalajian, Michael; Park, Namseok; Yang, Muchuan; Jing, Yi; Brochu, Paul; Sun, Zhelin; Li, Chun; Nguyen, Truong; Pei, Qibing; Wang, Deli

2013-01-01

We report the electronic recording of the touch contact and pressure using an active matrix pressure sensor array made of transparent zinc oxide thin-film transistors and tactile feedback display using an array of diaphragm actuators made of an interpenetrating polymer elastomer network. Digital replay, editing and manipulation of the recorded touch events were demonstrated with both spatial and temporal resolutions. Analog reproduction of the force is also shown possible using the polymer actuators, despite of the high driving voltage. The ability to record, store, edit, and replay touch information adds an additional dimension to digital technologies and extends the capabilities of modern information exchange with the potential to revolutionize physical learning, social networking, e-commerce, robotics, gaming, medical and military applications.

Tactile Feedback Display with Spatial and Temporal Resolutions

Science.gov (United States)

Vishniakou, Siarhei; Lewis, Brian W.; Niu, Xiaofan; Kargar, Alireza; Sun, Ke; Kalajian, Michael; Park, Namseok; Yang, Muchuan; Jing, Yi; Brochu, Paul; Sun, Zhelin; Li, Chun; Nguyen, Truong; Pei, Qibing; Wang, Deli

2013-08-01

We report the electronic recording of the touch contact and pressure using an active matrix pressure sensor array made of transparent zinc oxide thin-film transistors and tactile feedback display using an array of diaphragm actuators made of an interpenetrating polymer elastomer network. Digital replay, editing and manipulation of the recorded touch events were demonstrated with both spatial and temporal resolutions. Analog reproduction of the force is also shown possible using the polymer actuators, despite of the high driving voltage. The ability to record, store, edit, and replay touch information adds an additional dimension to digital technologies and extends the capabilities of modern information exchange with the potential to revolutionize physical learning, social networking, e-commerce, robotics, gaming, medical and military applications.

Solid-state poly(ethylene glycol)-polyurethane/polymethylmethacrylate/rutile TiO2 nanofiber composite electrolyte-correlation between morphology and conducting properties

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chilaka, Naresh; Ghosh, Sutapa

2012-01-01

Highlights: ► Semi IPN composite of PEG-PU/PMMA with different wt% of rutile TiO 2 is synthesized. ► Formation of nanocomposite is confirmed by SEM, XRD and IR spectroscopic analysis. ► DSC and TGA confirmed the enhanced thermal stability of the composite. ► Composite with 18 wt% rutile TiO 2 is found to be the best conducting material. - Abstract: A series of lithium electrolyte materials based on hybrid of semi Inter penetrating Polymer Network of [poly(ethylene glycol)-polyurethane-polymethylmethacrylate] [60:40] and TiO 2 nanofibers is described. TiO 2 nanofibers are made by simple solvothermal procedure. Rutile phase of TiO 2 and its fibrous morphology are confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern and scanning electron microscopy image respectively. Semi Inter penetrating Polymer Network of polyethylene glycol-polyurethane/polymethylmethacrylate with LiClO 4 and its nanocomposite with different weight percent of TiO 2 nano fibers have been synthesized. The formation of Inter penetrating Polymer Network and its amorphous nature are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction pattern and differential scanning calorimetry results. Thermo gravimetric analysis shows enhanced thermal stability of the composite compared to the semi Inter penetrating Polymer Network system. The electrical characterizations of the nanocomposites are done by current–voltage (I–V) measurements and impedance spectroscopy. These results confirm that incorporation of TiO 2 nanofibers by 18% enhances the conductivity of the Inter penetrating Polymer Network system by ten times . The nanoscale structure of the inorganic material is found to be responsible for the bulk properties of the system, especially those that differ from the properties of similar, pure salt-in-polymer electrolytes. Further differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and impedance data confirm the presence of two polymeric phases in the semi Inter penetrating Polymer

Structural diversification and photocatalytic properties of three Cd(II) coordination polymers decorated with different auxiliary ligands

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yin, Wen-Yu; Zhuang, Guo-Yong; Huang, Zuo-Long; Cheng, Hong-Jian; Zhou, Li; Ma, Man-Hong; Wang, Hao; Tang, Xiao-Yan, E-mail: xytang@cslg.edu.cn; Ma, Yun-Sheng; Yuan, Rong-Xin, E-mail: yuanrx@cslg.edu.cn

2016-03-15

Three cadmium coordination polymers, [Cd(bismip)]{sub n} (1), {[Cd(bismip)(phen)]·H_2O}{sub n} (2) and {[Cd_2(bismip)_2(4,4′-bipy)]·2H_2O}{sub n} (3) (H{sub 2}bismip=5-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-ylsulfanylmethyl)-isophthalic acid, phen=1,10-phenanthroline, 4,4′-bipy=4,4′-bipyridine) have been prepared under solvothermal conditions. In 1, the [Cd{sub 4}(bismip){sub 3}] units are jointed by bismip ligands to afford a three-dimensional (3D) architecture. Complex 2 exhibits a 3D supramolecular framework based on the interconnection of 1D chains through hydrogen bonding interactions and π-π packing interactions. 3 is a two-fold interpenetrating 3D architecture with a (4·8{sup 2})(4{sup 2}·8{sup 4}) Schläfli symbol in which 2D layers are interlinked by 4,4′-bipy ligands. The diverse structures of compounds 1–3 indicate that the auxiliary ligands have significant effects on the final structures. The photoluminescent properties and photocatalytic properties of these coordination polymers in the solid state were also investigated. Remarkably, 3 shows the wide gap semiconductor nature and exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance. - Graphical abstract: Three cadmium coordination polymers with different architectures based on 5-(1H-benzoimidazol-2-ylsulfanylmethyl)-isophthalic acid have been prepared. Their photoluminescent properties were also investigated. - Highlights: • Three new Cd(II) Cps were synthesized based on H{sub 2}bismip. • Compounds 1 and 3 show 3D networks and 2 exhibits a 1D chain. • Compoud 3 exhibits good catalytic activity of methylene blue photodegradation.

Wind Farm Reliability Modelling Using Bayesian Networks and Semi-Markov Processes

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Robert Adam Sobolewski

2015-09-01

Full Text Available Technical reliability plays an important role among factors affecting the power output of a wind farm. The reliability is determined by an internal collection grid topology and reliability of its electrical components, e.g. generators, transformers, cables, switch breakers, protective relays, and busbars. A wind farm reliability’s quantitative measure can be the probability distribution of combinations of operating and failed states of the farm’s wind turbines. The operating state of a wind turbine is its ability to generate power and to transfer it to an external power grid, which means the availability of the wind turbine and other equipment necessary for the power transfer to the external grid. This measure can be used for quantitative analysis of the impact of various wind farm topologies and the reliability of individual farm components on the farm reliability, and for determining the expected farm output power with consideration of the reliability. This knowledge may be useful in an analysis of power generation reliability in power systems. The paper presents probabilistic models that quantify the wind farm reliability taking into account the above-mentioned technical factors. To formulate the reliability models Bayesian networks and semi-Markov processes were used. Using Bayesian networks the wind farm structural reliability was mapped, as well as quantitative characteristics describing equipment reliability. To determine the characteristics semi-Markov processes were used. The paper presents an example calculation of: (i probability distribution of the combination of both operating and failed states of four wind turbines included in the wind farm, and (ii expected wind farm output power with consideration of its reliability.

Carbohydrate polymer based pH-sensitive IPN microgels: Synthesis, characterization and drug release characteristics

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Eswaramma, S. [Polymer Biomaterial Design and Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, 516003 (India); Reddy, N. Sivagangi [Advanced Nanomaterials Lab, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241 (Korea, Republic of); Rao, K.S.V. Krishna, E-mail: ksvkr@yogivemanauniversity.ac.in [Polymer Biomaterial Design and Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, 516003 (India)

2017-07-01

pH-sensitive interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) microgels of chitosan (CS) and guargum-g-poly((2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) (GG-g-PDMAEMA) were developed by emulsion crosslinking method using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. In this regard, primarily guargum (GG) is grafted with (2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) followed by blended with CS to prepare various microgel formulations. These microgels were treated as responsive drug carriers for an anticancer agent, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The maximum % encapsulation efficiency was found to be 81. Fourier transform infrared analysis was used to investigate the formation of graft copolymer (GG-g-PDMAEMA), chemical structure of microgels as well as the chemical interactions of drug molecules with the polymer matrix. The surface morphological studies and average particle size were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The average size of microgels is 130 ± 20 μm. Thermal behavior and molecular distribution of 5-FU within the polymer matrix were confirmed from thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction experiments. The pH-sensitive swelling behavior of IPN microgels was investigated in different pH solutions. To study the release profile of 5-FU, in vitro release profiles were performed in both pH 1.2 and 7.4. The release kinetics showed pH- dependent drug release and IPN microgels exhibited an excellent controlled release pattern for 5-FU over a period of more than 24 h. The release mechanism was analyzed by evaluating the release data using different empirical equations. - Highlights: • poly((2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) was grafted on to guargum backbone. • pH-responsive IPN microgels were developed from chitosan and graft copolymer. • Microgels were treated as responsive drug carriers for an anticancer agent, 5-fluorouracil. • Swelling and drug release studies were greatly dependent on pH.

Carbohydrate polymer based pH-sensitive IPN microgels: Synthesis, characterization and drug release characteristics

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Eswaramma, S.; Reddy, N. Sivagangi; Rao, K.S.V. Krishna

2017-01-01

pH-sensitive interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) microgels of chitosan (CS) and guargum-g-poly((2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) (GG-g-PDMAEMA) were developed by emulsion crosslinking method using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. In this regard, primarily guargum (GG) is grafted with (2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) followed by blended with CS to prepare various microgel formulations. These microgels were treated as responsive drug carriers for an anticancer agent, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The maximum % encapsulation efficiency was found to be 81. Fourier transform infrared analysis was used to investigate the formation of graft copolymer (GG-g-PDMAEMA), chemical structure of microgels as well as the chemical interactions of drug molecules with the polymer matrix. The surface morphological studies and average particle size were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The average size of microgels is 130 ± 20 μm. Thermal behavior and molecular distribution of 5-FU within the polymer matrix were confirmed from thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction experiments. The pH-sensitive swelling behavior of IPN microgels was investigated in different pH solutions. To study the release profile of 5-FU, in vitro release profiles were performed in both pH 1.2 and 7.4. The release kinetics showed pH- dependent drug release and IPN microgels exhibited an excellent controlled release pattern for 5-FU over a period of more than 24 h. The release mechanism was analyzed by evaluating the release data using different empirical equations. - Highlights: • poly((2-dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) was grafted on to guargum backbone. • pH-responsive IPN microgels were developed from chitosan and graft copolymer. • Microgels were treated as responsive drug carriers for an anticancer agent, 5-fluorouracil. • Swelling and drug release studies were greatly dependent on pH.

Elaboration, characterization and application of polysulfone and polyacrylic acid blends as ultrafiltration membranes for removal of some heavy metals from water.

Science.gov (United States)

Mbareck, Chamekh; Nguyen, Quang Trong; Alaoui, Ouafa Tahiri; Barillier, Daniel

2009-11-15

Polysulfone (PSf)/polyacrylic acid ultrafiltration (PSf/PAA) membranes were prepared from a polymer blend in dimethylformamide by coagulation in water according to the wet phase inversion method. Immobilization of water-soluble PAA within the non-soluble PSf matrix was proven by the increase of ion exchange capacity and the intensity of the carboxyl groups' peak with the increase of PAA content as shown by Fourier transform infrared spectra. These results lead to consider that PSf and PAA form a semi-interpenetrating polymer networks. The obtained membranes showed a decrease of mean surface-pore sizes, the overall porosity and the hydraulic permeability with the increase in PAA content. Such results were imputed to the morphologic modifications of PSf film with the immobilization of increasing PAA amount. PSf/PAA membranes showed high lead, cadmium and chromium rejection which reaches 100% at pH superior to 5.7 and a low rejection at low pH. Moreover, the heavy metal rejection decreases with feed solution concentration and applied pressure increases. These behaviors were attributed to the role of carboxylic groups in ion exchange or complexation. As a matter of fact, the strong lead ion-PAA interactions were revealed by the scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-rays (SEM-EDX).

Conducting polymer networks synthesized by photopolymerization-induced phase separation

Science.gov (United States)

Yamashita, Yuki; Komori, Kana; Murata, Tasuku; Nakanishi, Hideyuki; Norisuye, Tomohisa; Yamao, Takeshi; Tran-Cong-Miyata, Qui

2018-03-01

Polymer mixtures composed of double networks of a polystyrene derivative (PSAF) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were alternatively synthesized by using ultraviolet (UV) and visible (Vis) light. The PSAF networks were generated by UV irradiation to photodimerize the anthracene (A) moieties labeled on the PSAF chains, whereas PMMA networks were produced by photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer and the cross-link reaction using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) under Vis light irradiation. It was found that phase separation process of these networks can be independently induced and promptly controlled by using UV and Vis light. The characteristic length scale distribution of the resulting co-continuous morphology can be well regulated by the UV and Vis light intensity. In order to confirm and utilize the connectivity of the bicontinuous morphology observed by confocal microscopy, a very small amount, 0.1 wt%, of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was introduced into the mixture and the current-voltage (I-V) relationship was subsequently examined. Preliminary data show that MWCNTs are preferentially dispersed in the PSAF-rich continuous domains and the whole mixture became electrically conducting, confirming the connectivity of the observed bi-continuous morphology. The experimental data obtained in this study reveal a promising method to design various scaffolds for conducting soft matter taking advantages of photopolymerization-induced phase separation.

Unconventional device concepts for polymer solar cells

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Veenstra, S.C.; Slooff, L.H.; Verhees, W.J.H.; Cobussen-Pool, E.M.; Lenzmann, F.O.; Kroon, J.M. [ECN Solar Energy, Petten (Netherlands); Sessolo, M.; Bolink, H.J. [Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia (Spain)

2009-09-15

The inclusion of metal-oxide layers in polymer solar cells enables the fabrication of a series of unconventional device architectures. These devices include: semi-transparent polymer solar cells, devices with inverted polarity, as well as devices with air stable electrodes. A proof-of-principle of these devices is presented. The anticipated benefits of these novel device structures over conventional polymer solar cells are discussed.

Predictive Methods for Dense Polymer Networks: Combating Bias with Bio-Based Structures

Science.gov (United States)

2016-03-16

Combating bias with bio - based structures 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) Andrew J. Guenthner...unlimited. PA Clearance 16152 Integrity  Service  Excellence Predictive methods for dense polymer networks: Combating bias with bio -based...Architectural Bias • Comparison of Petroleum-Based and Bio -Based Chemical Architectures • Continuing Research on Structure-Property Relationships using

Electron transfer between a quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase and an electrode via a redox polymer network

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Stigter, E.C.A.; Jong, G.A.H. de; Jongejan, J.A.; Duine, J.A.; Lugt, J.P. van der; Somers, W.A.C.

1996-01-01

A quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase (QH-EDH) from Comamonas testosteroni was immobilized on an electrode in a redox polymer network consisting of a polyvinylpyridine partially N-complexed with osmiumbis-(bipyridine)chloride. The enzyme effectively transfers electrons to the electrode via the

Polymer Solar Cells – Non Toxic Processing and Stable Polymer Photovoltaic Materials

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Søndergaard, Roar

The field of polymer solar cell has experienced enormous progress in the previous years, with efficiencies of small scale devices (~1 mm2) now exceeding 8%. However, if the polymer solar cell is to achieve success as a renewable energy resource, mass production of sufficiently stable and efficient...... and development of more stable materials. The field of polymer solar cells has evolved around the use of toxic and carcinogenic solvents like chloroform, benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene and xylene. As large scale production of organic solar cells is envisaged to production volumes corresponding...... synthesis of polymers carrying water coordinating side chains which allow for processing from semi-aqueous solution. A series of different side chains were synthesized and incorporated into the final polymers as thermocleavable tertiary esters. Using a cleavable side chain induces stability to solar cells...

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy study on the structural relaxation of phenylmethylsiloxane-modified epoxy hybrids at different aging temperatures

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hsu, Chia-Wen [Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan (China); Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan (China); Ma, Chen-Chi M., E-mail: ccma@che.nthu.edu.tw [Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan (China); Tan, Chung-Sung [Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan (China); Li, Hsun-Tien [Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan (China)

2015-07-15

The cured network conformations and structural relaxation behaviours of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)-methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) modified with phenylmethylsiloxane-modified epoxy (PMSE) at different aging temperatures were studied using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The DMA results revealed that the cured PMSE network can insert into the cured DGEBA network to form interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). The structural relaxation behaviours of DGEBA–PMSE-0.4 produced using DGEBA, PMSE, and MHHPA at a ratio of 0.6:0.4:1 by equivalent weight were studied using PALS at 150 °C and 55 °C. The aging-induced free volume relaxation parameters of DGEBA–PMSE-0.4 at 150 °C and 55 °C were investigated using the double additive exponential model and the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts exponential model. For double additive exponential model, only one relaxation time (ζ) of 584.5 h was found at 150 °C; By contrast, there were two separate relaxation times of 37.4 h (ζ{sub 1}) and 753.6 h (ζ{sub 2}) at 55 °C. The ζ{sub 1} of the IPNs hybrid can be attributed to the network relaxation of PMSE, and the ζ{sub 2} can be attributed to the network relaxation of DGEBA at 55 °C. The results suggested the double additive exponential model can effectively predict DGEBA–PMSE hybrid relaxation behaviours. - Highlights: • The cured network conformations of DGEBA–PMSE hybrids were studied using DMA. • The structural relaxation behaviours of DGEBA–PMSE hybrids were studied using PALS. • The cured DGEBA–PMSE hybrids were interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). • PALS studies provided a quantitative demonstration of relaxation behaviours. • Double additive exponential model effectively predicted the relaxation times of hybrids.

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy study on the structural relaxation of phenylmethylsiloxane-modified epoxy hybrids at different aging temperatures

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hsu, Chia-Wen; Ma, Chen-Chi M.; Tan, Chung-Sung; Li, Hsun-Tien

2015-01-01

The cured network conformations and structural relaxation behaviours of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)-methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) modified with phenylmethylsiloxane-modified epoxy (PMSE) at different aging temperatures were studied using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The DMA results revealed that the cured PMSE network can insert into the cured DGEBA network to form interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). The structural relaxation behaviours of DGEBA–PMSE-0.4 produced using DGEBA, PMSE, and MHHPA at a ratio of 0.6:0.4:1 by equivalent weight were studied using PALS at 150 °C and 55 °C. The aging-induced free volume relaxation parameters of DGEBA–PMSE-0.4 at 150 °C and 55 °C were investigated using the double additive exponential model and the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts exponential model. For double additive exponential model, only one relaxation time (ζ) of 584.5 h was found at 150 °C; By contrast, there were two separate relaxation times of 37.4 h (ζ 1 ) and 753.6 h (ζ 2 ) at 55 °C. The ζ 1 of the IPNs hybrid can be attributed to the network relaxation of PMSE, and the ζ 2 can be attributed to the network relaxation of DGEBA at 55 °C. The results suggested the double additive exponential model can effectively predict DGEBA–PMSE hybrid relaxation behaviours. - Highlights: • The cured network conformations of DGEBA–PMSE hybrids were studied using DMA. • The structural relaxation behaviours of DGEBA–PMSE hybrids were studied using PALS. • The cured DGEBA–PMSE hybrids were interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs). • PALS studies provided a quantitative demonstration of relaxation behaviours. • Double additive exponential model effectively predicted the relaxation times of hybrids

Introduction of chemical, physical and mechanical coupling in the study of the blistering phenomena for semi-crystalline polymers; Une approche multiphysique de l'endommagement de polymeres en milieu petrolier: exemple du blistering

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cangemi, L.; Klopffer, M.H.; Martin, J. [Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP), 92 - Rueil-Malmaison (France); Grandidier, J.C. [Poitiers Univ., Lab. de Mecanique et de Physique des Materiaux, UMR 6617 CNRS, ENSMA, 86 (France)

2005-09-01

Polymer materials are used in numerous oil applications where the knowledge and the control of their barrier properties are required: thermosetting coatings, rubber seals, thermoplastic liners. In that case, thermoplastic materials are in contact with water, hydrocarbons, gases and all carried fluids at high temperature and high pressure (up to 13 deg C and to 100 MPa). Under these extreme conditions, gases contained in petroleum products (such as H{sub 2}S, CO{sub 2}) have a high tendency to dissolve into semi-crystalline polymers (polyolefins, fluorinated polymers). A decompression, i.e. a rupture of the thermodynamic equilibrium may eventually lead to gas concentration and temperature gradients in the polymer structures. The resulting damaging phenomenon is called blistering and can be really dramatic for the material because it is irreversible and may end the pipe leak-proofness. As a matter of fact, the condition of damage is mainly correlated to the temperature, the rate of decompression and the properties of the material. Thereby, it is important to have an accurate knowledge of all the involved phenomena in order to quantify and then predict the barrier properties of the materials in those aggressive conditions. The aim of this study is to identify the various mechanism involved in the blistering phenomena for semi-crystalline polymers (such as PVF2, PE), to establish some relations between the polymer microstructure (morphology), its mechanical properties and the damage and to build physicochemical models which will take into account some mechanical, thermal and diffusional aspects. (authors)

Conductivity and properties of polysiloxane-polyether cluster-LiTFSI networks as hybrid polymer electrolytes

Science.gov (United States)

Boaretto, Nicola; Joost, Christine; Seyfried, Mona; Vezzù, Keti; Di Noto, Vito

2016-09-01

This report describes the synthesis and the properties of a series of polymer electrolytes, composed of a hybrid inorganic-organic matrix doped with LiTFSI. The matrix is based on ring-like oligo-siloxane clusters, bearing pendant, partially cross-linked, polyether chains. The dependency of the thermo-mechanic and of the transport properties on several structural parameters, such as polyether chains' length, cross-linkers' concentration, and salt concentration is studied. Altogether, the materials show good thermo-mechanical and electrochemical stabilities, with conductivities reaching, at best, 8·10-5 S cm-1 at 30 °C. In conclusion, the cell performances of one representative sample are shown. The scope of this report is to analyze the correlations between structure and properties in networked and hybrid polymer electrolytes. This could help the design of optimized polymer electrolytes for application in lithium metal batteries.

Theory of liquid crystal elastomers and polymer networks : Connection between neoclassical theory and differential geometry.

Science.gov (United States)

Nguyen, Thanh-Son; Selinger, Jonathan V

2017-09-01

In liquid crystal elastomers and polymer networks, the orientational order of liquid crystals is coupled with elastic distortions of crosslinked polymers. Previous theoretical research has described these materials through two different approaches: a neoclassical theory based on the liquid crystal director and the deformation gradient tensor, and a geometric elasticity theory based on the difference between the actual metric tensor and a reference metric. Here, we connect those two approaches using a formalism based on differential geometry. Through this connection, we determine how both the director and the geometry respond to a change of temperature.

Flexible Photonics: Polymer LEDs Made from Monochromatic Red Emitting Lanthanide/Polymer Blends. Phase 1

National Research Council Canada - National Science Library

O'Regan, Marie

1999-01-01

.... Spectrally pure, red emitting flexible LEDs have been fabricated. Close to a four-fold increase in device efficiency is obtained when a suitable lanthanide complex is blended with the semi-conducting host polymer...

Synthesis and Properties of IPN Hydrogels Based on Konjac Glucomannan and Poly(acrylic acid)

Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (English)

Bing LIU; Zhi Lan LIU; Ren Xi ZHUO

2006-01-01

Novel interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels based on konjac glucomannan (KGM) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were prepared by polymerization and cross-linking of acrylic acid (AA) in the pre-fabricated KGM gel. The IPN gel was analyzed by FT-IR. The studies on the equilibrium swelling ratio of IPN hydrogels revealed their sensitive response to environmental pH value. The results of in vitro degradation showed that the IPN hydrogels retain the enzymatic degradation character of KGM.

An unprecedented extended architecture constructed from a 2-D interpenetrating cationic coordination framework templated by SiW12O404- anion

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang Xiuli; Lin Hongyan; Bi Yanfeng; Chen Baokuan; Liu Guocheng

2008-01-01

A novel inorganic-organic hybrid compound based on polyoxometalates (POMs) and organic ligand formulated as [Cu 2 (bpp) 4 (H 2 O) 2 ](SiW 12 O 40 )∼6H 2 O (1) [bpp=1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane], was hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, IR, TG, and cyclic voltammetry. Crystal data for 1: Orthorhombic, Pbcn, a=23.0085(19) A, b=14.6379(12) A, c=23.6226(19) A, V=7956.0(11) A 3 , Z=4, Dc=3.315 g cm -3 , and R(final)=0.0826. X-ray diffraction study reveals that compound 1 was the first interpenetrating network of 2-D metal-organic cationic coordination framework [Cu 2 (bpp) 4 (H 2 O) 2 ] n 4n+ , in which Keggin-type anions SiW 12 O 40 4- has been used as a non-coordinating anionic template. The electrochemical property of 1-bulk modified carbon paste electrode (1-CPE) has been studied, and the results indicate that 1-CPE has good electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction of nitrite in 1 M H 2 SO 4 aqueous solution. - Graphical abstract: Compound [Cu 2 (bpp) 4 (H 2 O) 2 ](SiW 12 O 40 )∼6H 2 O (1) represents the first 2-D interpenetrating cationic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) templated by Keggin-type anions. These MOF layers are stacked together along the crystallographic c axis exactly to construct large cubic-like channels (with dimensions of 12.3x13.6 A) occupied by SiW 12 O 40 4- clusters

Sulfonate-grafted porous polymer networks for preferential CO(2) adsorption at low pressure

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Lu, W.; Yuan, D.; Sculley, J.; Zhao, D.; Krishna, R.; Zhou, H.-C.

2011-01-01

A porous polymer network (PPN) grafted with sulfonic acid (PPN-6-SO3H) and its lithium salt (PPN-6-SO3Li) exhibit significant increases in isosteric heats of CO2 adsorption and CO2-uptake capacities. IAST calculations using single-component-isotherm data and a 15/85 CO2/N2 ratio at 295 K and 1 bar

Autonomous Modeling, Statistical Complexity and Semi-annealed Treatment of Boolean Networks

Science.gov (United States)

Gong, Xinwei

complexity values for networks in the ordered and critical phases and for highly disordered networks, peaking somewhere in the disordered phase. Individual nodes with high complexity have, on average, a larger influence on the system dynamics. Lastly, a semi-annealed approximation that preserves the correlation between states at neighboring nodes is introduced to study a social game-inspired network model in which all links are bidirectional and all nodes have a self-input. The technique developed here is shown to yield accurate predictions of distribution of players' states, and accounts for some nontrivial collective behavior of game theoretic interest.

Extremely stretchable thermosensitive hydrogels by introducing slide-ring polyrotaxane cross-linkers and ionic groups into the polymer network

Science.gov (United States)

Bin Imran, Abu; Esaki, Kenta; Gotoh, Hiroaki; Seki, Takahiro; Ito, Kohzo; Sakai, Yasuhiro; Takeoka, Yukikazu

2014-01-01

Stimuli-sensitive hydrogels changing their volumes and shapes in response to various stimulations have potential applications in multiple fields. However, these hydrogels have not yet been commercialized due to some problems that need to be overcome. One of the most significant problems is that conventional stimuli-sensitive hydrogels are usually brittle. Here we prepare extremely stretchable thermosensitive hydrogels with good toughness by using polyrotaxane derivatives composed of α-cyclodextrin and polyethylene glycol as cross-linkers and introducing ionic groups into the polymer network. The ionic groups help the polyrotaxane cross-linkers to become well extended in the polymer network. The resulting hydrogels are surprisingly stretchable and tough because the cross-linked α-cyclodextrin molecules can move along the polyethylene glycol chains. In addition, the polyrotaxane cross-linkers can be used with a variety of vinyl monomers; the mechanical properties of the wide variety of polymer gels can be improved by using these cross-linkers. PMID:25296246

Transforming Anaerobic Adhesives into Highly Durable and Abrasion Resistant Superhydrophobic Organoclay Nanocomposite Films: A New Hybrid Spray Adhesive for Tough Superhydrophobicity

Science.gov (United States)

Bayer, Ilker S.; Brown, Andrea; Steele, Adam; Loth, Eric

2009-12-01

The authors report fabrication of tough nanostructured self-cleaning superhydrophobic polymer-organoclay films from anaerobic acrylic adhesives displaying strong adhesion to metal surfaces. Both industrial and bio-grade anaerobic adhesives such as bone cements could be used. Montmorillonite clay filled anaerobic adhesives were modified by blending with a water dispersed fluoro-methacrylic latex in solution to form abrasion resistant interpenetrating polymer network films upon spray casting. The adhesive films could cure by thermosetting in oxygen-rich environments. Very high contact angles with low hysteresis were also measured for acidic (pH 2) and basic (pH 11) aqueous buffer solutions indicating resistance to acidic and basic media.

Calculation of the band structure of 2d conducting polymers using the network model

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Sabra, M. K.; Suman, H.

2007-01-01

the network model has been used to calculate the band structure the gap energy and Fermi level of conducting polymers in two dimensions. For this purpose, a geometrical classification of possible polymer chains configurations in two dimensions has been introduced leading to a classification of the unit cells based on the number of bonds in them. The model has been applied to graphite in 2D, represented by a three bonds unit cell, and, as a new case, the anti-parallel Polyacetylene chains (PA) in two dimensions, represented by a unit cell with four bons. The results are in good agreement with the first principles calculations. (author)

Theoretical Investigations of CO 2 and H 2 Sorption in an Interpenetrated Square-Pillared Metal–Organic Material

KAUST Repository

Pham, Tony; Forrest, Katherine A.; McLaughlin, Keith; Tudor, Brant; Nugent, Patrick; Hogan, Adam; Mullen, Ashley; Cioce, Christian R.; Zaworotko, Michael J.; Space, Brian

2013-01-01

Simulations of CO2 and H2 sorption and separation were performed in [Cu(dpa)2SiF6-i], a metal-organic material (MOM) consisting of an interpenetrated square grid of Cu2+ ions coordinated to 4,4′-dipyridylacetylene (dpa) rings and pillars of SiF6 2

Water Soluble Polymers as Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Bing-Joe Hwang

2012-03-01

Full Text Available The relentless increase in the demand for useable power from energy-hungry economies continues to drive energy-material related research. Fuel cells, as a future potential power source that provide clean-at-the-point-of-use power offer many advantages such as high efficiency, high energy density, quiet operation, and environmental friendliness. Critical to the operation of the fuel cell is the proton exchange membrane (polymer electrolyte membrane responsible for internal proton transport from the anode to the cathode. PEMs have the following requirements: high protonic conductivity, low electronic conductivity, impermeability to fuel gas or liquid, good mechanical toughness in both the dry and hydrated states, and high oxidative and hydrolytic stability in the actual fuel cell environment. Water soluble polymers represent an immensely diverse class of polymers. In this comprehensive review the initial focus is on those members of this group that have attracted publication interest, principally: chitosan, poly (ethylene glycol, poly (vinyl alcohol, poly (vinylpyrrolidone, poly (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid and poly (styrene sulfonic acid. The paper then considers in detail the relationship of structure to functionality in the context of polymer blends and polymer based networks together with the effects of membrane crosslinking on IPN and semi IPN architectures. This is followed by a review of pore-filling and other impregnation approaches. Throughout the paper detailed numerical results are given for comparison to today’s state-of-the-art Nafion® based materials.

Mechanics of biological polymer composites

Science.gov (United States)

Lomakin, Joseph

2009-12-01

displayed a darker coloration and significantly increased n of 0.0470.004, suggesting both cuticles to be less cross-linked, a finding consistent with reduced beta-alanine metabolism. Suppression of the tanning enzyme laccase2 (TcLac2) resulted in a pale cuticle with an n of 0.043+/-0.005, implicating laccases in the formation of both pigments and cross-links during sclerotization. Cuticular cross-linking was increased and n decreased with decreased expression of structural proteins, CP10 and CP20. This work establishes n as an important novel parameter for confirming metabolic pathways within load bearing tissues and for understanding structure function relationships within biological polymer composites. Additionally, Tribolium castaneum elytral indentation modulus (800+/-200 MPa) was determined by nanoindentation and a 4nm regular hexagonal pattern on the dorsal side of elytra investigated via scanning, transmission and atomic microscopy. Based on studied biological materials, the combination of rigid macromolecules immersed in a ductile matrix was found to be significant in achieving exceptional mechanical performance. Inspired by this biological design principle, the synthesis, properties and structure of Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate/agarose semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels were explored. The resulting novel composite materials were 9x stiffer than agarose and 5x tougher than PEGDA alone and showed good biocompatibility, suggesting promise as a scaffold material for tissue engineering constructs for cartilage regeneration.

Calculation of Thomson scattering spectral fits for interpenetrating flows

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Swadling, G. F., E-mail: george.swadling@imperial.ac.uk; Lebedev, S. V., E-mail: george.swadling@imperial.ac.uk; Burdiak, G. C.; Suttle, L.; Patankar, S.; Smith, R. A.; Bennett, M.; Suzuki-Vidal, F. [Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW (United Kingdom); Harvey-Thompson, A. J. [Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1193 (United States); Rozmus, W. [Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2JI (Canada); Hall, G. N. [Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom SW7 2BW and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551 (United States); Yuan, J. [Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power, Institute of Fluid Physics, CAE, Mianyang 621900 (China)

2014-12-15

Collective mode optical Thomson scattering has been used to investigate the interactions of radially convergent ablation flows in Tungsten wire arrays. These experiments were carried out at the Magpie pulsed power facility at Imperial College, London. Analysis of the scattered spectra has provided direct evidence of ablation stream interpenetration on the array axis, and has also revealed a previously unobserved axial deflection of the ablation streams towards the anode as they approach the axis. It is has been suggested that this deflection is caused by the presence of a static magnetic field, advected with the ablation streams, stagnated and accrued around the axis. Analysis of the Thomson scattering spectra involved the calculation and fitting of the multi-component, non-relativistic, Maxwellian spectral density function S (k, ω). The method used to calculate the fits of the data are discussed in detail.

Gum ghatti based novel electrically conductive biomaterials: A study of conductivity and surface morphology

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

S. Kalia

2014-04-01

Full Text Available Gum ghatti-cl-poly(acrylamide-aniline interpenetrating network (IPN was synthesized by a two-step aqueous polymerization method, in which aniline monomer was absorbed into the network of gum ghatti-cl-poly(acrylamide and followed by a polymerization reaction between aniline monomers. Initially, semi-IPN based on acrylamide and gum ghatti was prepared by free-radical copolymerization in aqueous media with optimized process parameters, using N,N'-methylenebis-acrylamide, as cross-linker and ammonium persulfate, as an initiator system. Optimum reaction conditions affording maximum percentage swelling were: solvent [mL] =12, Acrylamide (AAm [mol•L–1] = 1.971, Ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS [mol•L–1] = 0.131•10–1, N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA [mol•L–1] = 0.162•10–1, reaction time [min] = 210, temperature [°C] = 100 and pH = 7.0. The resulting IPN was doped with different protonic acids. The effect of the doping has been investigated on the conductivity and surface morphology of the IPN hydrogel. The maximum conductivity was observed with 1.5N HClO4 concentration. The morphological, structural and electrical properties of the candidate polymers were studied using scanning electron micrscopy (SEM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR and two-probe method, respectively.

Dynamic dilution exponent in monodisperse entangled polymer solutions

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Shahid, T.; Huang, Qian; Oosterlinck, F.

2017-01-01

of concentration but also depends on the molar mass of the chains. While the proposed approach successfully explains the viscoelastic properties of a large number of semi-dilute solutions of polymers in their own oligomers, important discrepancies are found for semi-dilute entangled polymers in small-molecule......We study and model the linear viscoelastic properties of several entangled semi-dilute and concentrated solutions of linear chains of different molar masses and at different concentrations dissolved in their oligomers. We discuss the dilution effect of the oligomers on the entangled long chains....... In particular, we investigate the influence of both concentration and molar mass on the value of the effective dynamic dilution exponent determined from the level of the storage plateau at low and intermediate frequencies. We show that the experimental results can be quantitatively explained by considering...

Radiation synthesis and modification of polymers for biomedical applications. Final results of a co-ordinated research project. 1996-2000

CERN Document Server

2002-01-01

Radiation techniques are being used for synthesis of hydrogels, functional polymers, interpenetrating systems, chemical modification of surfaces, immobilization of bioactive materials, synthesis of functional micro- and nanospheres and processing of naturally derived biomaterials. Potential medical applications of these biomaterials include implants, topical dressings, treatment devices and drug delivery systems. Biotechnological applications include diagnostic assays, separation and purification systems, immobilized enzyme and cell bioprocesses and cell culture surfaces. The main objective of the CRP on The use of Radiation Processing to Prepare Biomaterials for Application in Medicine was to co-ordinate the research carried out in the participating countries, to ensure that different research programmes complement each other and the information exchange is available to all. Furthermore, the objective was to expand the use of ionizing radiation in two major areas: synthesis of polymers and gels for medical a...

Swing Phase Control of Semi-Active Prosthetic Knee Using Neural Network Predictive Control With Particle Swarm Optimization.

Science.gov (United States)

Ekkachai, Kittipong; Nilkhamhang, Itthisek

2016-11-01

In recent years, intelligent prosthetic knees have been developed that enable amputees to walk as normally as possible when compared to healthy subjects. Although semi-active prosthetic knees utilizing magnetorheological (MR) dampers offer several advantages, they lack the ability to generate active force that is required during some states of a normal gait cycle. This prevents semi-active knees from achieving the same level of performance as active devices. In this work, a new control algorithm for a semi-active prosthetic knee during the swing phase is proposed to reduce this gap. The controller uses neural network predictive control and particle swarm optimization to calculate suitable command signals. Simulation results using a double pendulum model show that the generated knee trajectory of the proposed controller is more similar to the normal gait than previous open-loop controllers at various ambulation speeds. Moreover, the investigation shows that the algorithm can be calculated in real time by an embedded system, allowing for easy implementation on real prosthetic knees.

A Semi-Supervised Learning Algorithm for Predicting Four Types MiRNA-Disease Associations by Mutual Information in a Heterogeneous Network.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhang, Xiaotian; Yin, Jian; Zhang, Xu

2018-03-02

Increasing evidence suggests that dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) may lead to a variety of diseases. Therefore, identifying disease-related miRNAs is a crucial problem. Currently, many computational approaches have been proposed to predict binary miRNA-disease associations. In this study, in order to predict underlying miRNA-disease association types, a semi-supervised model called the network-based label propagation algorithm is proposed to infer multiple types of miRNA-disease associations (NLPMMDA) by mutual information derived from the heterogeneous network. The NLPMMDA method integrates disease semantic similarity, miRNA functional similarity, and Gaussian interaction profile kernel similarity information of miRNAs and diseases to construct a heterogeneous network. NLPMMDA is a semi-supervised model which does not require verified negative samples. Leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) was implemented for four known types of miRNA-disease associations and demonstrated the reliable performance of our method. Moreover, case studies of lung cancer and breast cancer confirmed effective performance of NLPMMDA to predict novel miRNA-disease associations and their association types.

Polymer-Assisted Direct Deposition of Uniform Carbon Nanotube Bundle Networks for High Performance Transparent Electrodes

KAUST Repository

Hellstrom, Sondra L.; Lee, Hang Woo; Bao, Zhenan

2009-01-01

Flexible transparent electrodes are crucial for touch screen, flat panel display, and solar cell technologies. While carbon nanotube network electrodes show promise, characteristically poor dispersion properties have limited their practicality. We report that addition of small amounts of conjugated polymer to nanotube dispersions enables straightforward fabrication of uniform network electrodes by spin-coating and simultaneous tuning of parameters such as bundle size and density. After treatment in thionyl chloride, electrodes have sheet resistances competitive with other reported carbon nanotube based transparent electrodes to date. © 2009 American Chemical Society.

Polymer-Assisted Direct Deposition of Uniform Carbon Nanotube Bundle Networks for High Performance Transparent Electrodes

KAUST Repository

Hellstrom, Sondra L.

2009-06-23

Flexible transparent electrodes are crucial for touch screen, flat panel display, and solar cell technologies. While carbon nanotube network electrodes show promise, characteristically poor dispersion properties have limited their practicality. We report that addition of small amounts of conjugated polymer to nanotube dispersions enables straightforward fabrication of uniform network electrodes by spin-coating and simultaneous tuning of parameters such as bundle size and density. After treatment in thionyl chloride, electrodes have sheet resistances competitive with other reported carbon nanotube based transparent electrodes to date. © 2009 American Chemical Society.

Distinct regimes of elastic response and deformation modes of cross-linked cytoskeletal and semiflexible polymer networks

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Head, D.A.; Levine, A.M.; Mac Kintosh, F.C.

2003-01-01

Semiflexible polymers such as filamentous actin (F-actin) play a vital role in the mechanical behavior of cells, yet the basic properties of cross-linked F-actin networks remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we have performed numerical studies of the linear response of homogeneous and

Structural diversity of a series of terpyridyl carboxylate coordination polymers: Luminescent sensor and magnetic properties

Science.gov (United States)

Yuan, Fei; Yuan, Chun-Mei; Hu, Huai-Ming; Wang, Ting-Ting; Zhou, Chun-Sheng

2018-02-01

Eleven new coordination polymers, [Zn2(ctpy)2(HCOO)2]n·3nH2O (1), [Zn2(ctpy)2(HCOO)2(H2O)2]n·nH2O (2), [Zn2(ctpy)2(H2O)4]n·2n(CH3COO)·nH2O (3), [Zn2(ctpy)2(CH3COO)2]n·nH2O (4), [Zn(ctpy)2]n·nH2O (5), [Zn2(ctpy)2(Hidc)(H2O)2]n(6), [Cd2(ctpy)4]n(7), [Cd2(ctpy)2(Hidc)]n(8), [Co2(ctpy)2(HCOO)2(H2O)2]n·nH2O (9), [Co(ctpy)(DMF)(ox)0.5]n(10), [Co(ctpy)(ox)0.5]n(11) and the closely related compound [Zn(ctpy)(ox)0.5]n·0.5nH2O (12) (Hctpy = 4‧-carboxy-4,2‧:6‧,4‧‧-terpyridine, H2ox = oxalic acid and H3idc = imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid) have been synthesized by hydro(solvo)thermal reaction of 4‧-carboxy-4,2‧:6‧,4‧‧-terpyridine with divalent metal salts and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 4 have similar structure which demonstrate a two-fold interpenetrating 3D framework with a 3-connected utp topological net, which contains the same number of left and right-handed 21 helical chains. Compounds 2 and 9 are isostructural 2D layer with a 3-connected hcb topological net. Similar to 2, compound 3 also displays a 3-connected 2D hcb topological net. Compounds 5 and 10 are a 2D layer with a 4-connected sql topological net. Compound 6 shows a chiral 2D layer based on a 1D left- or right-handed helical chains, which are further extended into an achiral 2D + 2D→3D supramolecular network by hydrogen bonds with alternately arrangement. Compound 7 features an unusual 2-fold interpenetrating 3D coordination network which exhibits a new intriguing (3,5)-connected binodal topological net with the Schläfli symbol of (52·6)(53·63·73·8). Compound 8 shows a 2D→3D supramolecular structure based on (3,4)-connected 2D bilayers with the Schläfli symbol of (44·62). Compound 11 displays an unusual three-dimensional coordination network which exhibits an intriguing (3,8)-connected binodal new topological net with Schläfli symbol (42·62)2(42·623·83). Compound 12 features a two

Syntheses, crystal structures and fluorescent properties of Cd(II), Hg(II) and Ag(I) coordination polymers constructed from 1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-acetic acid

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ding Degang; Xie Lixia; Fan Yaoting; Hou Hongwei; Xu Yan

2009-01-01

Three new d 10 coordination polymers, namely [Cd(taa)Cl] n 1, [Hg(taa)Cl] n 2, and [Ag 1.5 (taa)(NO 3 ) 0.5 ] n 3 (taa=1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-acatate anion) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 consists of two-dimensional layers constructed by carboxyl-linked helical chains, which are further linked through carboxyl group to generate a unique 3D open framework. Topological analysis reveals that the structure of 1 can be classified as an unprecedented (3,8)-connected network with the Schlaefli symbol (4.5 2 ) 2 (4 2 .5 8 .6 14 .7 3 .8). Compound 2 manifests a doubly interpenetrated decorated α-polonium cubic network with the Schlaefli symbol of (4 10 .6 2 .8 3 ). Compound 3 consists of 2D puckered layers made up of Ag centers and taa - bridges. In addition, all of these compounds are photoluminescent in the solid state with spectra that closely resemble those of the ligand precursor. - Graphical abstract: Three new compounds based on 1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-acetic acid and Cd(II), Hg(II) and Ag(I) salts display luminescent properties and may be potential candidates for luminescent materials.

Biocompatible Synthetic and Semi-synthetic Polymers - A Patent Analysis.

Science.gov (United States)

Ranganathan, Balu; Miller, Charles; Sinskey, Anthony

2018-01-01

Bioengineering has come of ages by setting up spare parts manufacturing units to be used in human body such as invasive implants and interventional controlled drug delivery in vivo systems. As a matter of fact patients on basis of their fiscal strength have the option to undergo prophylactic tactical manoeuvre for longer life spans. In this sphere of invasive implants, biocompatible polymer implants are a state of the art cutting edge technology with outstanding innovations leading to number of very successful start-up companies with a plethora of patent portfolios. From 2000 onwards, patent filings and grants for biocompatible polymers are expanding. Currently definition of biocompatibility is quite ambiguous with respect to the use of FDA approved polymeric materials. This article analysed patent portfolios for the trend patterns of prolific biocompatible polymers for capitalization and commercialization in the forthcoming years. Pair Bulk Data (PBD) portal was used to mine patent portfolios. In this patent preliminary analysis report, patents from 2000 to 2015 were evaluated using 317(c) filings, grants and classifications data for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). This patent portfolio preliminary analysis embarks into patent analysis for New Product Development (NPD) for corporate R&D investment managerial decisions and on government advocacy for federal funding which is decisive for developmental advances. An in-depth patent portfolio investigation with return of investment (RoI) is in the pipeline. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Self-assembled hybrid materials based on conjugated polymers and semiconductors nano-crystals for plastic solar cells; Architectures hybrides auto-assemblees a base de systemes polyconjugues et de nanocristaux de semi-conducteurs pour le photovoltaique plastique

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Girolamo, J. de

2007-11-15

This work is devoted to the elaboration of self-assembled hybrid materials based on poly(3- hexyl-thiophene) and CdSe nano-crystals for photovoltaic applications. For that, complementary molecular recognition units were introduced as side chain groups on the polymer and at the nano-crystals' surface. Diamino-pyrimidine groups were introduced by post-functionalization of a precursor copolymer, namely poly(3-hexyl-thiophene-co-3- bromo-hexyl-thiophene) whereas thymine groups were introduced at the nano-crystals' surface by a ligand exchange reaction with 1-(6-mercapto-hexyl)thymine. However, due to their different solubility, the mixing of the two components by solution processes is difficult. A 'one-pot' procedure was developed, but this method led to insoluble aggregates without control of the hybrid composition. To overcome the solubility problem, the layer-by-layer method was used to prepare the films. This method allows a precise control of the deposition process. Experimental parameters were tested in order to evaluate their impact on the resulting film. The films morphology was investigated by microscopy and X-Ray diffraction techniques. These analyses reveal an interpenetrated structure of nano-crystals within the polymer matrix rather than a multilayered structure. Electrochemical and spectro electrochemical studies were performed on the hybrid material deposited by the LBL process. Finally the materials were tested in a solar cell configuration and the I=f(V) curves reveals a clear photovoltaic behaviour. (author)

Facile one-pot synthesis of porphyrin based porous polymer networks (PPNs) as biomimetic catalysts

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zou, LF; Feng, DW; Liu, TF; Chen, YP; Fordham, S; Yuan, S; Tian, J; Zhou, HC

2015-01-01

Stable porphyrin based porous polymer networks, PPN-23 and PPN-24, have been synthesized through a facile one-pot approach by the aromatic substitution reactions of pyrrole and aldehydes. PPN-24(Fe) shows high catalytic efficiency as a biomimetic catalyst in the oxidation reaction of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) in the presence of H2O2.

Synthesis and characterization of semi-crystalline polyarylene ether nitrile with AIEE feature

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Pan; Li, Kui; Jia, Kun; Liu, Xiaobo

2017-12-01

An AIEgen 1, 2-di (4-hydroxyphenyl)-1, 2-diphenylethene (TPE-2OH) was introduced into the back bone of semi-crystalline poly arylene ether nitriles (PEN). The fluorescence spectra results indicated that the derived polymer displayed a typical aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) active with an emitting peak at ∼470 nm. Then the AIEE active PEN was prepared into films through casting method and realised strong fluorescence emission and excellent mechanics properties. Besides, the crystal AIEE active polymer shows sphere micro-morphology along with a strong blue emission. These findings will open a door for further research on the high performance semi-crystalline PEN at flexible display technology and optical sensors.

A non-invasive experimental approach for surface temperature measurements on semi-crystalline thermoplastics

Science.gov (United States)

Boztepe, Sinan; Gilblas, Remi; de Almeida, Olivier; Le Maoult, Yannick; Schmidt, Fabrice

2017-10-01

Most of the thermoforming processes of thermoplastic polymers and their composites are performed adopting a combined heating and forming stages at which a precursor is heated prior to the forming. This step is done in order to improve formability by softening the thermoplastic polymer. Due to low thermal conductivity and semi-transparency of polymers, infrared (IR) heating is widely used for thermoforming of such materials. Predictive radiation heat transfer models for temperature distributions are therefore critical for optimizations of thermoforming process. One of the key challenges is to build a predictive model including the physical background of radiation heat transfer phenomenon in semi-crystalline thermoplastics as their microcrystalline structure introduces an optically heterogeneous medium. In addition, the accuracy of a predictive model is required to be validated experimentally where IR thermography is one of the suitable methods for such a validation as it provides a non-invasive, full-field surface temperature measurement. Although IR cameras provide a non-invasive measurement, a key issue for obtaining a reliable measurement depends on the optical characteristics of a heated material and the operating spectral band of IR camera. It is desired that the surface of a material to be measured has a spectral band where the material behaves opaque and an employed IR camera operates in the corresponding band. In this study, the optical characteristics of the PO-based polymer are discussed and, an experimental approach is proposed in order to measure the surface temperature of the PO-based polymer via IR thermography. The preliminary analyses showed that IR thermographic measurements may not be simply performed on PO-based polymers and require a correction method as their semi-transparent medium introduce a challenge to obtain reliable surface temperature measurements.

Reactive polymer fused deposition manufacturing

Science.gov (United States)

Kunc, Vlastimil; Rios, Orlando; Love, Lonnie J.; Duty, Chad E.; Johs, Alexander

2017-05-16

Methods and compositions for additive manufacturing that include reactive or thermosetting polymers, such as urethanes and epoxies. The polymers are melted, partially cross-linked prior to the depositing, deposited to form a component object, solidified, and fully cross-linked. These polymers form networks of chemical bonds that span the deposited layers. Application of a directional electromagnetic field can be applied to aromatic polymers after deposition to align the polymers for improved bonding between the deposited layers.

Porphyrin coordination polymer nanospheres and nanorods

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, Zhongchun; Shelnutt, John A.; Medforth, Craig J.

2012-12-04

A porphyrin coordination polymer nanostructure comprising a network of pyridyl porphyrin molecules and coordinating metal ions coordinatively bound through the pyridyl groups. In some embodiments, the porphyrins are metalloporphyrins. A variety of nanostructures are formed by the network polymer, including nanospheres, polygonal nanostructures, nanorods, and nanofibers, depending on a variety of factors including coordination metal ion, porphyrin type, metal of the metalloporphyrin, and degree of agitation during nanostructure formation. Reduction of coordinating metal ions may be used to form metal nanoparticles on the coordination polymer nanostructure.

Influence of polymer network parameters of tragacanth gum-based pH responsive hydrogels on drug delivery.

Science.gov (United States)

Singh, Baljit; Sharma, Vikrant

2014-01-30

The present article deals with design of tragacanth gum-based pH responsive hydrogel drug delivery systems. The characterization of hydrogels has been carried out by SEMs, EDAX, FTIR, (13)C NMR, XRD, TGA/DTA/DTG and swelling studies. The correlation between reaction conditions and structural parameters of polymer networks such as polymer volume fraction in the swollen state (ϕ), Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ), molecular weight of the polymer chain between two neighboring cross links (M¯c), crosslink density (ρ) and mesh size (ξ) has been determined. The different kinetic models such as zero order, first order, Higuchi square root law, Korsmeyer-Peppas model and Hixson-Crowell cube root model were applied and it has been observed that release profile of amoxicillin best followed the first order model for the release of drug from the polymer matrix. The swelling of the hydrogels and release of drug from the drug loaded hydrogels occurred through non-Fickian diffusion mechanism in pH 7.4 solution. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Swelling of polymer networks with topological constraints: Application of the Helmis-Heinrich-Straube model

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

B. Basterra-Beroiz

2018-08-01

Full Text Available For the first time since its formulation in 1986, the theoretical approach proposed by Helmis, Heinrich and Straube (HHS model, which considers the contribution of topological restrictions from entanglements to the swelling of polymer networks, is applied to experimental data. The main aspects and key equations are reviewed and their application is illustrated for unfilled rubber compounds. The HHS model is based on real networks and gives new perspectives to the interpretation of experimental swelling data for which the entanglement contributions are usually neglected by considering phantom network models. This investigation applies a reliable constrained-chain approach through a deformation-dependent tube model for defining the elastic contribution of swollen networks, which is one of the main limitations on the applicability of classical (affine Flory-Rehner and (non-affine phantom models. This short communication intends to provide a baseline for the application and validation of this modern approach for a broader class of rubber materials.

Stress controlled gas-barrier oxide coatings on semi-crystalline polymers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rochat, G.; Leterrier, Y.; Fayet, P.; Manson, J.-A.E.

2005-01-01

Thin silicon oxide (SiO x ) barrier coatings formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates were subjected to post-deposition annealing treatments in the temperature range for orientation relaxation of the polymer. The resulting change in coating internal stress state was measured by means of thermo-mechanical analyses, and its effect on the coating cohesive properties and coating/polymer adhesion was determined from the analysis of uniaxial fragmentation tests in situ in a scanning electron microscope, assuming a Weibull-type probability of failure and a perfectly plastic stress transfer at the SiO x /PET interface. The strain to failure and intrinsic fracture toughness of the ultrathin oxide coating were found to be as high as 5.7% and 10 J/m 2 , respectively, and its interfacial shear strength with PET was found to be close to 100 MPa. Annealing for 10 min at 150 deg. C did not modify the oxygen permeation properties of the SiO x /PET film, which suggests that the defect population of the oxide was not affected by the thermal treatment. In contrast, the coating internal compressive stress resulting from annealing was shown to increase by 40% the apparent coating cohesive properties and adhesion to the polymer

A stress-induced phase transition model for semi-crystallize shape memory polymer

Science.gov (United States)

Guo, Xiaogang; Zhou, Bo; Liu, Liwu; Liu, Yanju; Leng, Jinsong

2014-03-01

The developments of constitutive models for shape memory polymer (SMP) have been motivated by its increasing applications. During cooling or heating process, the phase transition which is a continuous time-dependent process happens in semi-crystallize SMP and the various individual phases form at different temperature and in different configuration. Then, the transformation between these phases occurred and shape memory effect will emerge. In addition, stress applied on SMP is an important factor for crystal melting during phase transition. In this theory, an ideal phase transition model considering stress or pre-strain is the key to describe the behaviors of shape memory effect. So a normal distributed model was established in this research to characterize the volume fraction of each phase in SMP during phase transition. Generally, the experiment results are partly backward (in heating process) or forward (in cooling process) compared with the ideal situation considering delay effect during phase transition. So, a correction on the normal distributed model is needed. Furthermore, a nonlinear relationship between stress and phase transition temperature Tg is also taken into account for establishing an accurately normal distributed phase transition model. Finally, the constitutive model which taking the stress as an influence factor on phase transition was also established. Compared with the other expressions, this new-type model possesses less parameter and is more accurate. For the sake of verifying the rationality and accuracy of new phase transition and constitutive model, the comparisons between the simulated and experimental results were carried out.

A comparison of 111In-labelled polymer beads and 99mTc-Sn-colloid as solid food and semi-solid food tracers for scintigraphic gastric emptying studies

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Dormehl, I.C.; Du Plessis, M.; Maree, M.; Pilloy, W.J.

1986-01-01

In order to establish the efficacy of labelling a solid meal and a semi-solid meal with either 111 In-labelled polymer beads or 99m Tc-tin colloid beagle dogs were fed variously labelled meals of different consistencies and then monitored by scintigraphy for gastric motility patterns. The labelling with each tracer was either performed by thoroughly mixing it into the food before cooking, or alternatively by surface labelling after the food had been cooked. For the 99m Tc-Sn-colloid tracer no difference was found in the measured gastric emptying times resulting from either pre-cooking labelling or surface labelling of the meals. Cooking the tracer together with the ingredients does however seem to promote a firm entrapment of the 111 In-polymer beads into a solid protein, and in this manner the 111 In-labelled resin appears to be a reliable solid food tracer. Surface labelling with 111 In-polymer beads of a solid meal with a smooth texture fails totally and the tracer empties with the liquid phase. (orig.) [de

Tracking mobile users in wireless networks via semi-supervised colocalization.

Science.gov (United States)

Pan, Jeffrey Junfeng; Pan, Sinno Jialin; Yin, Jie; Ni, Lionel M; Yang, Qiang

2012-03-01

Recent years have witnessed the growing popularity of sensor and sensor-network technologies, supporting important practical applications. One of the fundamental issues is how to accurately locate a user with few labeled data in a wireless sensor network, where a major difficulty arises from the need to label large quantities of user location data, which in turn requires knowledge about the locations of signal transmitters or access points. To solve this problem, we have developed a novel machine learning-based approach that combines collaborative filtering with graph-based semi-supervised learning to learn both mobile users' locations and the locations of access points. Our framework exploits both labeled and unlabeled data from mobile devices and access points. In our two-phase solution, we first build a manifold-based model from a batch of labeled and unlabeled data in an offline training phase and then use a weighted k-nearest-neighbor method to localize a mobile client in an online localization phase. We extend the two-phase colocalization to an online and incremental model that can deal with labeled and unlabeled data that come sequentially and adapt to environmental changes. Finally, we embed an action model to the framework such that additional kinds of sensor signals can be utilized to further boost the performance of mobile tracking. Compared to other state-of-the-art systems, our framework has been shown to be more accurate while requiring less calibration effort in our experiments performed on three different testbeds.

A GRASS GIS Semi-Stochastic Model for Evaluating the Probability of Landslides Impacting Road Networks in Collazzone, Central Italy

Science.gov (United States)

Taylor, Faith E.; Santangelo, Michele; Marchesini, Ivan; Malamud, Bruce D.

2013-04-01

During a landslide triggering event, the tens to thousands of landslides resulting from the trigger (e.g., earthquake, heavy rainfall) may block a number of sections of the road network, posing a risk to rescue efforts, logistics and accessibility to a region. Here, we present initial results from a semi-stochastic model we are developing to evaluate the probability of landslides intersecting a road network and the network-accessibility implications of this across a region. This was performed in the open source GRASS GIS software, where we took 'model' landslides and dropped them on a 79 km2 test area region in Collazzone, Umbria, Central Italy, with a given road network (major and minor roads, 404 km in length) and already determined landslide susceptibilities. Landslide areas (AL) were randomly selected from a three-parameter inverse gamma probability density function, consisting of a power-law decay of about -2.4 for medium and large values of AL and an exponential rollover for small values of AL; the rollover (maximum probability) occurs at about AL = 400 m.2 The number of landslide areas selected for each triggered event iteration was chosen to have an average density of 1 landslide km-2, i.e. 79 landslide areas chosen randomly for each iteration. Landslides were then 'dropped' over the region semi-stochastically: (i) random points were generated across the study region; (ii) based on the landslide susceptibility map, points were accepted/rejected based on the probability of a landslide occurring at that location. After a point was accepted, it was assigned a landslide area (AL) and length to width ratio. Landslide intersections with roads were then assessed and indices such as the location, number and size of road blockage recorded. The GRASS-GIS model was performed 1000 times in a Monte-Carlo type simulation. Initial results show that for a landslide triggering event of 1 landslide km-2 over a 79 km2 region with 404 km of road, the number of road blockages

The impact of calcium carbonate as pore forming agent and drug entrapment method towards drug dissolution mechanism of amoxicillin trihydrate encapsulated by chitosan-methyl cellulose semi-IPN hydrogel for floating drug delivery system

Science.gov (United States)

Dewantara, Fauzi; Budianto, Emil

2018-04-01

Chitosan-methyl cellulose semi-IPN hydrogel is used as floating drug delivery system, and calcium carbonate also added as pore forming agent. The hydrogel network arranged by not only using biopolymer chitosan and methyl cellulose, but also the crosslink agent that is glutaraldehyde. Amoxicillin trihydrate entrapped into the polymer network with two different method, in situ loading and post loading. Furthermore both method has been tested for drug entrapment efficiency along with drug dissolution test, and the result for drug entrapment efficiency is in situ loading method has highest value of 100%, compared to post loading method which has value only 71%. Moreover, at the final time of drug dissolution test shows in situ loading method has value of 96% for total accumulative of drug dissolution, meanwhile post loading method has 72%. The value of drug dissolution test from both method is used for analyzing drug dissolution mechanism of amoxicillin trihydrate from hydrogel network with four mathematical drug mechanism models as parameter. The polymer network encounter destructive degradation causes by acid solution which used as dissolution medium, and the level of degradation is observed with optical microscope. However the result shows that degradation of the polymer network doesn't affect drug dissolution mechanism directly. Although the pore forming agent causes the pore inside the hydrogel network create interconnection and it was quite influential to drug dissolution mechanism. Interconnected pore is observed with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and shows that the amount and area of interconnected pore inside the hydrogel network is increasing as drug dissolution goes on.

Low percolation transitions in carbon nanotube networks dispersed in a polymer matrix: dielectric properties, simulations and experiments.

Science.gov (United States)

Simoes, Ricardo; Silva, Jaime; Vaia, Richard; Sencadas, Vítor; Costa, Pedro; Gomes, João; Lanceros-Méndez, Senentxu

2009-01-21

The low concentration behaviour and the increase of the dielectric constant in carbon nanotubes/polymer nanocomposites near the percolation threshold are still not well understood. In this work, a numerical model has been developed which focuses on the effect of the inclusion of conductive fillers in a dielectric polymer matrix on the dielectric constant and the dielectric strength. Experiments have been carried out in carbon nanotubes/poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposites in order to compare to the simulation results. This work shows how the critical concentration is related to the formation of capacitor networks and that these networks give rise to high variations in the electrical properties of the composites. Based on numerical studies, the dependence of the percolation transition on the preparation of the nanocomposite is discussed. Finally, based on numerical and experimental results, both ours and from other authors, the causes of anomalous percolation behaviour of the dielectric constant are identified.

Fiscal 1993 R and D project for industrial science and technology. Report on results in developing methane-fueled aircraft engine (R and D on silicon-based polymeric material); 1993 nendo methane nenryo kokukiyo engine kaihatsu seika hokokusho. Keisokei kobunshi zairyo no gijutsu kaihatsu

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

1994-03-01

R and D was conducted on silicon-based polymeric materials for structural use, for the purpose of establishing fundamental technologies such as molecular design, synthesis, material forming and evaluation method concerning silicon-based polymers, with the fiscal 1993 results summarized. In the studies of synthesis technologies of silicon-based polymeric materials having a sea-island structure, a series of polymers with an Si-C main chain structure were prepared by ring-opening polymerization of the cyclic monomers. In the studies of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure forming technologies, polycarbosilanes with superior thermal stability and solvent solubility were synthesized through structural control based on molecular design. In the studies of composite structural materials between organic metallic complex and silicon-based high polymer, the compounding was carried out by introducing or blending organic metallic complex into the main chain of silicon polymer, with evaluation made on the heat resistance. The studies of silicon polymer structural materials having a ring structure were conducted on high heat resistant polymers that were obtained by dehydrocoupling polymerization with magnesia as a catalyst. (NEDO)

Revealing the Supramolecular Nature of Side-Chain Terpyridine-Functionalized Polymer Networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jérémy Brassinne

2015-01-01

Full Text Available Nowadays, finely controlling the mechanical properties of polymeric materials is possible by incorporating supramolecular motifs into their architecture. In this context, the synthesis of a side-chain terpyridine-functionalized poly(2-(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate is reported via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. By addition of transition metal ions, concentrated aqueous solutions of this polymer turn into metallo-supramolecular hydrogels whose dynamic mechanical properties are investigated by rotational rheometry. Hence, the possibility for the material to relax mechanical constrains via dissociation of transient cross-links is brought into light. In addition, the complex phenomena occurring under large oscillatory shear are interpreted in the context of transient networks.

Modelling biochemical networks with intrinsic time delays: a hybrid semi-parametric approach

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Oliveira Rui

2010-09-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background This paper presents a method for modelling dynamical biochemical networks with intrinsic time delays. Since the fundamental mechanisms leading to such delays are many times unknown, non conventional modelling approaches become necessary. Herein, a hybrid semi-parametric identification methodology is proposed in which discrete time series are incorporated into fundamental material balance models. This integration results in hybrid delay differential equations which can be applied to identify unknown cellular dynamics. Results The proposed hybrid modelling methodology was evaluated using two case studies. The first of these deals with dynamic modelling of transcriptional factor A in mammalian cells. The protein transport from the cytosol to the nucleus introduced a delay that was accounted for by discrete time series formulation. The second case study focused on a simple network with distributed time delays that demonstrated that the discrete time delay formalism has broad applicability to both discrete and distributed delay problems. Conclusions Significantly better prediction qualities of the novel hybrid model were obtained when compared to dynamical structures without time delays, being the more distinctive the more significant the underlying system delay is. The identification of the system delays by studies of different discrete modelling delays was enabled by the proposed structure. Further, it was shown that the hybrid discrete delay methodology is not limited to discrete delay systems. The proposed method is a powerful tool to identify time delays in ill-defined biochemical networks.

Molecular network considerations in the deformation of glassy polymers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Henkee, C.S.

1985-01-01

Thin films of polystyrene (PS) are crosslinked with electron irradiation and are strained in tension until regions of local plastic deformation, either crazes or plane stress deformation zones (DZ's), have grown. The behavior of the PS glass is consistent with its being a network of molecular strands of total density nu = nu/sub x/ + nu/sub e/, where nu/sub e/ is the entangled strand density, and nu/sub x/ is the density of crosslinked strands. When nu is less than 4 x 10 25 m -3 only crazes are observed. As nu increases from 4 x 10 25 to 8 x 10 -5 m -3 , only shear DZ's are observed. The local extension ratio, lambda, in the crazes and DZ's correlate well with lambda/sub max/, the maximum extension ratio of a strand in a network of density nu computed using the Porod-Kratky model. Crosslinking to still higher crosslink densities, e.g. nu = 14nu/sub e/, results in cracks that propagate in a catastrophic manner at low applied strains. An optimum nu thus exists, one not too high to suppress local shear ductility but high enough to suppress crazes which can act as crack nucleation sites. Comparison of the results in crosslinked PS with those in other linear, but entangled polymer systems implies that chain scission is the major mechanism by which strands in the entanglement network are removed in forming fibril surfaces. Craze suppression by increasing nu is due to the extra energy required to break more main chain bonds to form these surfaces

Effect of gamma radiation on the structural and optical properties of Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) polymer

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Siddhartha; Aarya, Suveda; Dev, Kapil; Raghuvanshi, Suresh Kumar; Krishna, J.B.M.; Wahab, M.A.

2012-01-01

Effect of 1.25 MeV gamma radiation on the structural and optical properties of virgin and gamma irradiated (0–2000 kGy) Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) polymer samples are analyzed using powder X-ray diffractometer and UV–vis spectrophotometer. Diffraction pattern of PET polymer indicates the semi-crystalline in nature whereas the crystallinity increases with increasing dose of irradiation. The remarkable variation in crystallite size is also observed. The absorption and activation energy increase and the optical band gap (E g ) decreases with increasing dose in UV–vis studies. The existence of the maximum absorption, their shifting and broadening due to gamma irradiation in PET polymer are also discussed. - Highlights: ► PET is the transparent polymer and semi- crystalline. ► Crystallinity increases with increasing dose of irradiation of polymer. ► The remarkable variation in crystallite sizes was also observed in polymer. ► The absorption and activation energy increase and where as the optical band gap (E g ) decrease with increasing dose.

MyLibrary@LANL: proximity and semi-metric networks for a collaborative and recommender web service

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rocha, L. M. [Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States). School of Informatics and Cognitive Science Program; Simas, T. [Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States). School of Informatics and Cognitive Science Program; Rechtsteiner, A. [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); DiGiacomo, M. [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Research Library; Luce, R. E. [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Research Library

2005-09-01

We describe a network approach to building recommendation systems for a WWW service. We employ two different types of weighted graphs in our analysis and development: Proximity graphs, a type of Fuzzy Graphs based on a co-occurrence probability, and semi-metric distance graphs, which do not observe the triangle inequality of Euclidean distances. Both types of graphs are used to develop intelligent recommendation and collaboration systems for the MyLibrary@LANL web service, a user-centered front-end to the Los Alamos National Laboratory's (LANL) digital library collections and WWW resources.

Self-Healing, High-Permittivity Silicone Dielectric Elastomer

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Madsen, Frederikke Bahrt; Yu, Liyun; Skov, Anne Ladegaard

2016-01-01

possesses high dielectric permittivity and consists of an interpenetrating polymer network of silicone elastomer and ionic silicone species that are cross-linked through proton exchange between amines and acids. The ionically cross-linked silicone provides self-healing properties after electrical breakdown...... or cuts made directly to the material due to the reassembly of the ionic bonds that are broken during damage. The dielectric elastomers presented in this paper pave the way to increased lifetimes and the ability of dielectric elastomers to survive millions of cycles in high-voltage conditions....

Organic photovoltaics concepts and realization

CERN Document Server

Dyakonov, Vladimir; Parisi, Jürgen; Sariciftci, Niyazi

2003-01-01

Achieving efficient solar energy conversion at both large scale and low cost is among the most important technological challenges for the near future. The present volume describes and explains the fundamentals of organic/plastic solar cells in a manner accessible to both researchers and students. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the operational principles underlying several types of solar cells that have absorber layers based on polymer materials and small molecules. It addresses competing approaches, such as polymer solar cells and dye-sensitized cells, while considering the thermodynamic principles within the context of these schemes. Organic Photovoltaics also analyzes in detail the charge-transfer processes in the bulk-heterojunction devices corresponding to the relevant mechanism of carrier generation. Emphasized throughout is the concept of interpenetrating polymer-fullerene networks, due to their high potential for improving power efficiency.

Brushes and soap : grafted polymers and their interactions with nanocolloids

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Currie, E.P.K.

2000-01-01

Layers of polymer chains end-attached to a grafting plane at high densities, so-called brushes, are a curious state of matter. The (average) monomer density within the brush is as high as in a semi-dilute polymer solution, resulting in a high osmotic pressure in the brush. Due to the

Homogeneous crystal nucleation in polymers.

Science.gov (United States)

Schick, C; Androsch, R; Schmelzer, J W P

2017-11-15

The pathway of crystal nucleation significantly influences the structure and properties of semi-crystalline polymers. Crystal nucleation is normally heterogeneous at low supercooling, and homogeneous at high supercooling, of the polymer melt. Homogeneous nucleation in bulk polymers has been, so far, hardly accessible experimentally, and was even doubted to occur at all. This topical review summarizes experimental findings on homogeneous crystal nucleation in polymers. Recently developed fast scanning calorimetry, with cooling and heating rates up to 10 6 K s -1 , allows for detailed investigations of nucleation near and even below the glass transition temperature, including analysis of nuclei stability. As for other materials, the maximum homogeneous nucleation rate for polymers is located close to the glass transition temperature. In the experiments discussed here, it is shown that polymer nucleation is homogeneous at such temperatures. Homogeneous nucleation in polymers is discussed in the framework of the classical nucleation theory. The majority of our observations are consistent with the theory. The discrepancies may guide further research, particularly experiments to progress theoretical development. Progress in the understanding of homogeneous nucleation is much needed, since most of the modelling approaches dealing with polymer crystallization exclusively consider homogeneous nucleation. This is also the basis for advancing theoretical approaches to the much more complex phenomena governing heterogeneous nucleation.

Fiscal 1992 R and D project for next generation infrastructure technology. Report on results of R and D on silicon-based polymeric material; 1992 nendo keisokei kobunshi zairyo no kenkyu kaihatsu seika hokokusho

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

NONE

1993-03-01

R and D was conducted with the purpose of establishing fundamental technologies for molecular design, synthesis, material formation and evaluation method concerning silicon-based polymer. with the fiscal 1992 results summarized. In the studies on synthesis technology of electrically conductive silicon-based polymeric materials, silicon-based compounds were synthesized including in particular -Si-Si- bond and carbon multiple bond like -C-C-, with acquisition/analysis of material data started. In the studies on new silicon-based polymeric materials capable of circuit plotting, syntheses were performed for network polysilanes through the disproportionation reaction of alkoxydisilanes. In the studies on new silicon-based polymeric materials having a light emitting function, evaluation of oxidation-reduction potential and search for synthesizing conditions were performed for halosilanes and hydrosilanes. In the studies on silicon-based photoelectric conversion materials, molecular design progressed using a crystal orbital method. Furthermore, researches were implemented on such subjects as silicon-based polymeric materials having a sea-island structure, interpenetrating polymer network forming technologies, and composite structural materials composed of organic metallic complex and silicon-based polymers. (NEDO)

Comparison of /sup 111/In-labelled polymer beads and /sup 99/mTc-Sn-colloid as solid food and semi-solid food tracers for scintigraphic gastric emptying studies

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Dormehl, I.C.; Du Plessis, M.; Maree, M.; Pilloy, W.J.

1986-04-01

In order to establish the efficacy of labelling a solid meal and a semi-solid meal with either /sup 111/In-labelled polymer beads or /sup 99m/Tc-tin colloid beagle dogs were fed variously labelled meals of different consistencies and then monitored by scintigraphy for gastric motility patterns. The labelling with each tracer was either performed by thoroughly mixing it into the food before cooking, or alternatively by surface labelling after the food had been cooked. For the /sup 99m/Tc-Sn-colloid tracer no difference was found in the measured gastric emptying times resulting from either pre-cooking labelling or surface labelling of the meals. Cooking the tracer together with the ingredients does however seem to promote a firm entrapment of the /sup 111/In-polymer beads into a solid protein, and in this manner the /sup 111/In-labelled resin appears to be a reliable solid food tracer. Surface labelling with /sup 111/In-polymer beads of a solid meal with a smooth texture fails totally and the tracer empties with the liquid phase.

Welding behavior of semi-crystalline polymers 2. The effect of cocrystallisation on autoadhesion

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Xue, Y.-Q.; Tervoort, T.A.; Rastogi, S.; Lemstra, P.J.

2000-01-01

The effect of cocrystallization on the welding behavior of semicrystalline polymers was studied by means of T-peel testing at room temperature, using ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a model polymer. Solution-cast films of UHMWPE have a very special morphology, consisting of

Modeling of an ionic polymer metal composite actuator based on an extended Kalman filter trained neural network

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Truong, Dinh Quang; Ahn, Kyoung Kwan

2014-01-01

An ion polymer metal composite (IPMC) is an electroactive polymer that bends in response to a small applied electric field as a result of mobility of cations in the polymer network and vice versa. This paper presents an innovative and accurate nonlinear black-box model (NBBM) for estimating the bending behavior of IPMC actuators. The model is constructed via a general multilayer perceptron neural network (GMLPNN) integrated with a smart learning mechanism (SLM) that is based on an extended Kalman filter with self-decoupling ability (SDEKF). Here the GMLPNN is built with an ability to autoadjust its structure based on its characteristic vector. Furthermore, by using the SLM based on the SDEKF, the GMLPNN parameters are optimized with small computational effort, and the modeling accuracy is improved. An apparatus employing an IPMC actuator is first set up to investigate the IPMC characteristics and to generate the data for training and validating the model. The advanced NBBM model for the IPMC system is then created with the proper inputs to estimate IPMC tip displacement. Next, the model is optimized using the SLM mechanism with the training data. Finally, the optimized NBBM model is verified with the validating data. A comparison between this model and the previously developed model is also carried out to prove the effectiveness of the proposed modeling technique. (paper)

Development of the optical sensor for discriminating isomers of fatty acids based on emissive network polymers composed of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.

Science.gov (United States)

Narikiyo, Hayato; Kakuta, Takahiro; Matsuyama, Hiroki; Gon, Masayuki; Tanaka, Kazuo; Chujo, Yoshiki

2017-07-01

It was shown that water-soluble network polymers composed of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) had hydrophobic spaces inside the network because of strong hydrophobicity of the cubic silica cage. In this study, the water-soluble POSS network polymers connected with triphenylamine derivatives (TPA-POSS) were synthesized, and their functions as a sensor for discriminating the geometric isomers of fatty acids were investigated. Accordingly, in the photoluminescence spectra, different time-courses of intensity and peak wavelengths of the emission bands were detected from the TPA-POSS-containing solution in the presence of cis- or trans-fatty acids during incubation. Furthermore, variable time-dependent changes were obtained by changing coexisting ratios between two geometric isomers. From the mechanistic investigation, it was implied that these changes could be originated from the difference in the degree of interaction between the POSS networks and each fatty acid. Our data could be applicable for constructing a sensing material for generation and proportion of trans-fatty acids in the oil. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Three luminescent d{sup 10} metal coordination polymers assembled from a semirigid V-shaped ligand with high selective detecting of Cu{sup 2+} ion and nitrobenzene

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wu, Wei-Ping [Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Physico-Inorg. Chem., College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069 (China); Institute of Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong 643000 (China); Liu, Ping; Liang, Yu-Tong; Cui, Lin; Xi, Zheng-Ping [Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Physico-Inorg. Chem., College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069 (China); Wang, Yao-Yu, E-mail: wyaoyu@nwu.edu.cn [Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Physico-Inorg. Chem., College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069 (China)

2015-08-15

Three 2D luminescent coordination polymers with helical frameworks, [ZnL{sub 2}]{sub n} (1) and ([ML{sub 2}]·(H{sub 2}O)){sub n} (M=Zn (2), Cd (3)) (HL=4-((2-methyl-1 H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzoic acid), have been assembled under hydro(solvo)thermal conditions. Complex 1 is in chiral space group and displays a rare 2D→2D 2-fold parallel interpenetrated layer network with two types of chiral double helixes. Interestingly, the single crystal structure analyses indicate the coexistence of enantiomers la and 1b in one pot, while the bulk crystallization of 1 are racemic mixtures based on the CD measurement. 2 and 3 are isostructural, in the structure, there are two kinds of 2D chiral helical-layers which stack in an -ABAB- sequence leading to the overall structure are mesomer and achiral. All compounds display intense luminescence in solid state at room temperature with high chemical and thermal stability. More importantly, 1 has been successfully applied in the detection of Cu{sup 2+} ions in aqueous media and nitrobenzene and the probable detecting mechanism was also discussed. - Graphical abstract: Three luminescent d{sup 10} metal coordination polymers with helical-layer based on 4-((2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzoic acid have been obtained. Compound 1 shows high selective detecting for Cu{sup 2+} ion in aqueous and nitrobenzene. - Highlights: • Three coordination polymers with chiral helical-layer have been obtained. • 1 Can luminescent detect Cu{sup 2+} ion in aqueous media and nitrobenzene. • Racemic mixture or mesomer compounds can be obtained by controlling the reaction conditions.

3D Filament Network Segmentation with Multiple Active Contours

Science.gov (United States)

Xu, Ting; Vavylonis, Dimitrios; Huang, Xiaolei

2014-03-01

Fluorescence microscopy is frequently used to study two and three dimensional network structures formed by cytoskeletal polymer fibers such as actin filaments and microtubules. While these cytoskeletal structures are often dilute enough to allow imaging of individual filaments or bundles of them, quantitative analysis of these images is challenging. To facilitate quantitative, reproducible and objective analysis of the image data, we developed a semi-automated method to extract actin networks and retrieve their topology in 3D. Our method uses multiple Stretching Open Active Contours (SOACs) that are automatically initialized at image intensity ridges and then evolve along the centerlines of filaments in the network. SOACs can merge, stop at junctions, and reconfigure with others to allow smooth crossing at junctions of filaments. The proposed approach is generally applicable to images of curvilinear networks with low SNR. We demonstrate its potential by extracting the centerlines of synthetic meshwork images, actin networks in 2D TIRF Microscopy images, and 3D actin cable meshworks of live fission yeast cells imaged by spinning disk confocal microscopy.

Triconstituent co-assembly to ordered mesostructured polymer-silica and carbon-silica nanocomposites and large-pore mesoporous carbons with high surface areas.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Ruili; Shi, Yifeng; Wan, Ying; Meng, Yan; Zhang, Fuqiang; Gu, Dong; Chen, Zhenxia; Tu, Bo; Zhao, Dongyuan

2006-09-06

Highly ordered mesoporous polymer-silica and carbon-silica nanocomposites with interpenetrating networks have been successfully synthesized by the evaporation-induced triconstituent co-assembly method, wherein soluble resol polymer is used as an organic precursor, prehydrolyzed TEOS is used as an inorganic precursor, and triblock copolymer F127 is used as a template. It is proposed for the first time that ordered mesoporous nanocomposites have "reinforced concrete"-structured frameworks. By adjusting the initial mass ratios of TEOS to resol, we determined the obtained nanocomposites possess continuous composition with the ratios ranging from zero to infinity for the two constituents that are "homogeneously" dispersed inside the pore walls. The presence of silicates in nanocomposites dramatically inhibits framework shrinkage during the calcination, resulting in highly ordered large-pore mesoporous carbon-silica nanocomposites. Combustion in air or etching in HF solution can remove carbon or silica from the carbon-silica nanocomposites and yield ordered mesoporous pure silica or carbon frameworks. The process generates plenty of small pores in carbon or/and silica pore walls. Ordered mesoporous carbons can then be obtained with large pore sizes of approximately 6.7 nm, pore volumes of approximately 2.0 cm(3)/g, and high surface areas of approximately 2470 m(2)/g. The pore structures and textures can be controlled by varying the sizes and polymerization degrees of two constituent precursors. Accordingly, by simply tuning the aging time of TEOS, ordered mesoporous carbons with evident bimodal pores at 2.6 and 5.8 nm can be synthesized.

Synthesis, characterization and applications of polymer-metal ...

Indian Academy of Sciences (India)

Abstract. 4-Acryloxy acetophenone was prepared and subjected to suspension polymerization with divinyl- benzene as a cross-linking agent. The resulting network polymer was ligated with benzoyl hydrazone. The functional polymer was treated with metal ions [Cu(II), Fe(II)]. The polymer-metal complexes obtained.

Charge transport and structure in semimetallic polymers

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Rudd, Sam; Franco-Gonzalez, Juan F.; Kumar Singh, Sandeep

2017-01-01

Owing to changes in their chemistry and structure, polymers can be fabricated to demonstrate vastly different electrical conductivities over many orders of magnitude. At the high end of conductivity is the class of conducting polymers, which are ideal candidates for many applications in low......-cost electronics. Here, we report the influence of the nature of the doping anion at high doping levels within the semi-metallic conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on its electronic transport properties. Hall effect measurements on a variety of PEDOT samples show that the choice of doping...... that the chosen doping anion modifies the way PEDOT chains stack together. This link between structure and specific anion doping at high doping levels has ramifications for the fabrication of conducting polymer-based devices....

Predictive brain networks for major depression in a semi-multimodal fusion hierarchical feature reduction framework.

Science.gov (United States)

Yang, Jie; Yin, Yingying; Zhang, Zuping; Long, Jun; Dong, Jian; Zhang, Yuqun; Xu, Zhi; Li, Lei; Liu, Jie; Yuan, Yonggui

2018-02-05

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by dysregulation of distributed structural and functional networks. It is now recognized that structural and functional networks are related at multiple temporal scales. The recent emergence of multimodal fusion methods has made it possible to comprehensively and systematically investigate brain networks and thereby provide essential information for influencing disease diagnosis and prognosis. However, such investigations are hampered by the inconsistent dimensionality features between structural and functional networks. Thus, a semi-multimodal fusion hierarchical feature reduction framework is proposed. Feature reduction is a vital procedure in classification that can be used to eliminate irrelevant and redundant information and thereby improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis. Our proposed framework primarily consists of two steps. The first step considers the connection distances in both structural and functional networks between MDD and healthy control (HC) groups. By adding a constraint based on sparsity regularization, the second step fully utilizes the inter-relationship between the two modalities. However, in contrast to conventional multi-modality multi-task methods, the structural networks were considered to play only a subsidiary role in feature reduction and were not included in the following classification. The proposed method achieved a classification accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and area under the curve of 84.91%, 88.6%, 81.29%, and 0.91, respectively. Moreover, the frontal-limbic system contributed the most to disease diagnosis. Importantly, by taking full advantage of the complementary information from multimodal neuroimaging data, the selected consensus connections may be highly reliable biomarkers of MDD. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative ecobalancing accounting of semi-central house heat supply from wood residues; Vergleichende Oekobilanzierung der semi-zentralen Hauswaermebereitstellung aus Holzreststoffen

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Biemann, Kirsten

2015-07-01

In 2008 almost 40 percent of the German final energy demand was used for room heating and hot water supply. To decrease environmental burdens and to save fossil resources a restructuring of the heating sector is needed. Therefore legislation enforces higher insulation standards of buildings and a more frequent use of renewable energies as well as heating networks. Wood as a renewable and storable energy source is an attractive fuel. However, it must be used as efficiently as possible because of limited wood supplies. Connecting buildings via a heating network is a good option since bigger heating plants can operate at higher efficiencies than small heaters. However, the higher insulation standards of the buildings often oppose the construction of a heating network, because heating networks work best with high energy demands and low network lengths. Therefore the environmental and economic feasibility of new heating networks needs to be checked beforehand. This thesis explores the environmental burdens of different semi- centralized heating networks using wood residues as fuel. A semi- centralized heating network is a network with no more than 500 customers and a heating plant with less than 5 MWth. While wood residues are used in the base load plant, peak load is covered by a gas heating plant. As a method to analyze the potential environmental burdens of the heat supply a life cycle assessment according to ISO 14040/44 is used. Opposed to former life cycle assessment studies, construction and operation of the network is included in the assessment. Even though the environmental impacts of the semi- centralized heating from wood residues are dominated by the heat supply, an observation of the impacts solely at the heating plant is not sufficient. By varying the boundary conditions of the heating network two main contributors to the environmental impacts are found. In addition to the heat production at the plant the type of the buildings in the settlement has a huge

A morphological investigation of conductive networks in polymers loaded with carbon nanotubes

KAUST Repository

Lubineau, Gilles

2017-01-13

Loading polymers with conductive nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes, is a popular approach toward improving their electrical properties. Resultant materials are typically described by the weight or volume fractions of their nanoparticles. Because these conductive particles are only capable of charge transfer over a very short range, most do not interact with the percolated paths nor do they participate to the electrical transfer. Understanding how these particles are arranged is necessary to increase their efficiency. It is of special interest to understand how these particles participate in creating percolated clusters, either in a specific or in all directions, and non-percolated clusters. For this, we present a computational modeling strategy based on a full morphological analysis of a network to systematically analyse conductive networks and show how particles are arranged. This study provides useful information for designing these types of materials and examples suitable for characterizing important features, such as representative volume element, the role of nanotube tortuosity and the role of tunneling cutoff distance.

A morphological investigation of conductive networks in polymers loaded with carbon nanotubes

KAUST Repository

Lubineau, Gilles; Mora Cordova, Angel; Han, Fei; Odeh, I.N.; Yaldiz, R.

2017-01-01

Loading polymers with conductive nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes, is a popular approach toward improving their electrical properties. Resultant materials are typically described by the weight or volume fractions of their nanoparticles. Because these conductive particles are only capable of charge transfer over a very short range, most do not interact with the percolated paths nor do they participate to the electrical transfer. Understanding how these particles are arranged is necessary to increase their efficiency. It is of special interest to understand how these particles participate in creating percolated clusters, either in a specific or in all directions, and non-percolated clusters. For this, we present a computational modeling strategy based on a full morphological analysis of a network to systematically analyse conductive networks and show how particles are arranged. This study provides useful information for designing these types of materials and examples suitable for characterizing important features, such as representative volume element, the role of nanotube tortuosity and the role of tunneling cutoff distance.

Five new Zn(II) and Cd(II) coordination polymers constructed by 3,5-bis-oxyacetate-benzoic acid: Syntheses, crystal structures, network topologies and luminescent properties

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Jiang Xianrong; Yuan Hongyan; Feng Yunlong

2012-01-01

Five Zn(II) and Cd(II) coordination polymers, [Zn 2 (BOABA)(bpp)(OH)]·0.5H 2 O (1), [Cd 3 (BOABA) 2 (bpp) 2 (H 2 O) 6 ]·2H 2 O (2), [Cd 3 (BOABA) 2 (2,2′-bipy) 3 (H 2 O) 4 ]·5.5H 2 O (3), [CdNa(BOABA)(H 2 O)] 2 ·H 2 O (4) and [Cd 2 (BOABA)(bimb)Cl(H 2 O) 2 ]·H 2 O (5) (H 3 BOABA=3,5-bis-oxyacetate-benzoic acid, bpp=1,3-bi(4-pyridyl)propane, 2,2′-bipy=2,2′-bipyridine, bimb=1,4-bis(imidazol-1′-yl)butane), have been solvothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectra and TG analyses. 1 is an uninodal 4-connected 2D square grid network based on binuclear zinc clusters. 2 is 2D wavelike layer structure and further linked by hydrogen bonds into the final 3D (5,6,6)-connected topology network. 3 is 3-connected 2D topology network and the 2,2′-bipy ligands decorate in two different types. 4 is a (4,8)-connected 2D topology network with heterocaryotic {Cd 2 Na 2 } clusters and BOABA 3– ligands. 5 can be rationalized as a (3,10)-connected 3D topology network with tetranuclear {Cd 4 Cl 2 } clusters and BOABA 3– ligands. Meanwhile, photoluminescence studies revealed that these five coordination polymers display strong fluorescent emission bands in the solid state at room temperature. - Graphical abstract: Five new d 10 metal(II) coordination polymers based on H 3 BOABA ligand were obtained and characterized. They display different topological structures and luminescent properties. Highlights: ► Five d 10 metal(II) polymers based on 3,5-bis-oxyacetate-benzoic acid were obtained. ► The polymers were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. ► Polymers 1–5 display different topological structures. ► They show strong fluorescent emission bands in the solid state.

Mean Green operators of deformable fiber networks embedded in a compliant matrix and property estimates

Science.gov (United States)

Franciosi, Patrick; Spagnuolo, Mario; Salman, Oguz Umut

2018-04-01

Composites comprising included phases in a continuous matrix constitute a huge class of meta-materials, whose effective properties, whether they be mechanical, physical or coupled, can be selectively optimized by using appropriate phase arrangements and architectures. An important subclass is represented by "network-reinforced matrices," say those materials in which one or more of the embedded phases are co-continuous with the matrix in one or more directions. In this article, we present a method to study effective properties of simple such structures from which more complex ones can be accessible. Effective properties are shown, in the framework of linear elasticity, estimable by using the global mean Green operator for the entire embedded fiber network which is by definition through sample spanning. This network operator is obtained from one of infinite planar alignments of infinite fibers, which the network can be seen as an interpenetrated set of, with the fiber interactions being fully accounted for in the alignments. The mean operator of such alignments is given in exact closed form for isotropic elastic-like or dielectric-like matrices. We first exemplify how these operators relevantly provide, from classic homogenization frameworks, effective properties in the case of 1D fiber bundles embedded in an isotropic elastic-like medium. It is also shown that using infinite patterns with fully interacting elements over their whole influence range at any element concentration suppresses the dilute approximation limit of these frameworks. We finally present a construction method for a global operator of fiber networks described as interpenetrated such bundles.

Neural Network-Based Passive Filtering for Delayed Neutral-Type Semi-Markovian Jump Systems.

Science.gov (United States)

Shi, Peng; Li, Fanbiao; Wu, Ligang; Lim, Cheng-Chew

2017-09-01

This paper investigates the problem of exponential passive filtering for a class of stochastic neutral-type neural networks with both semi-Markovian jump parameters and mixed time delays. Our aim is to estimate the states by designing a Luenberger-type observer, such that the filter error dynamics are mean-square exponentially stable with an expected decay rate and an attenuation level. Sufficient conditions for the existence of passive filters are obtained, and a convex optimization algorithm for the filter design is given. In addition, a cone complementarity linearization procedure is employed to cast the nonconvex feasibility problem into a sequential minimization problem, which can be readily solved by the existing optimization techniques. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.

A Novel Analytical Model for Network-on-Chip using Semi-Markov Process

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

WANG, J.

2011-02-01

Full Text Available Network-on-Chip (NoC communication architecture is proposed to resolve the bottleneck of Multi-processor communication in a single chip. In this paper, a performance analytical model using Semi-Markov Process (SMP is presented to obtain the NoC performance. More precisely, given the related parameters, SMP is used to describe the behavior of each channel and the header flit routing time on each channel can be calculated by analyzing the SMP. Then, the average packet latency in NoC can be calculated. The accuracy of our model is illustrated through simulation. Indeed, the experimental results show that the proposed model can be used to obtain NoC performance and it performs better than the state-of-art models. Therefore, our model can be used as a useful tool to guide the NoC design process.

Comparison of Polymer Networks Synthesized by Conventional Free Radical and RAFT Copolymerization Processes in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Patricia Pérez-Salinas

2017-05-01

Full Text Available There is a debate in the literature on whether or not polymer networks synthesized by reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP processes, such as reversible addition-fragmentation radical transfer (RAFT copolymerization of vinyl/divinyl monomers, are less heterogeneous than those synthesized by conventional free radical copolymerization (FRP. In this contribution, the syntheses by FRP and RAFT of hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethylene methacrylate (HEMA and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2, using Krytox 157 FSL as the dispersing agent, and the properties of the materials produced, are compared. The materials were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC, swelling index (SI, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM. Studies on ciprofloxacin loading and release rate from hydrogels were also carried out. The combined results show that the hydrogels synthesized by FRP and RAFT are significantly different, with apparently less heterogeneity present in the materials synthesized by RAFT copolymerization. A ratio of experimental (Mcexp to theoretical (Mctheo molecular weight between crosslinks was established as a quantitative tool to assess the degree of heterogeneity of a polymer network.

Effect of artificial aging on polymeric surge arresters and polymer insulators for electricity distribution networks

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Carlos A. Ferreira

2011-01-01

Full Text Available A study was conducted to evaluate new and laboratory-aged samples of surge arresters and anchorage polymeric insulators, for 12 and 24 kV networks, which are used by the Rio Grande Energia (RGE. Power Utility Polymeric compounds were analyzed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG, Dynamic-Mechanic Analysis (DMA, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM to verify changes in the insulator properties due to degradation occurred during the experiments. The analyses were carried out before and after 6 months of aging in laboratory devices (weatherometer, 120 °C, salt spray, immersion in water. After the aging experiments, high-voltage electrical tests were also conducted: a radio interference voltage test and, simultaneously, the total and the internal leakage currents were measured to verify the surface degradation of the polymeric material used in the housing. The impulse current test was applied with current values close to 5, 10 and 30 kA, in order to force an internal degradation. Results showed that only surface degradation is detected at the polymer. The main properties of the parts were not affected by the aging. It confirms that polymer insulator and surge arrestor are appropriate for use in electricity distribution networks.

Effect of artificial aging on polymeric surge arresters and polymer insulators for electricity distribution networks

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ferreira, Carlos A.; Coser, E. [Laboratorio de Materiais Polimericos, Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil)], e-mail: ferreira.carlos@ufrgs.br; Angelini, Joceli M.G. [Departamento de Materiais Eletricos, CPqD, Campinas, SP (Brazil); Rossi, Jose A.D. [Materiais Alta Tensao, CPqD, Campinas, SP (Brazil); Martinez, Manuel L.B. [Departamento de Engenharia Eletrica, UNIFEI, Itajuba, MG (Brazil)

2011-07-01

A study was conducted to evaluate new and laboratory-aged samples of surge arresters and anchorage polymeric insulators, for 12 and 24 kV networks, which are used by the Rio Grande Energia (RGE). Power utility polymeric compounds were analyzed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG), Dynamic-Mechanic Analysis (DMA), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) to verify changes in the insulator properties due to degradation occurred during the experiments. The analyses were carried out before and after 6 months of aging in laboratory devices (weather meter, 120 deg C, salt spray, immersion in water). After the aging experiments, high-voltage electrical tests were also conducted: a radio interference voltage test and, simultaneously, the total and the internal leakage currents were measured to verify the surface degradation of the polymeric material used in the housing. The impulse current test was applied with current values close to 5, 10 and 30 k A, in order to force an internal degradation. Results showed that only surface degradation is detected at the polymer. The main properties of the parts were not affected by the aging. It confirms that polymer insulator and surge arrester are appropriate for use in electricity distribution networks. (author)

Solvent-dependent self-assembly and ordering in slow-drying semi-crystalline conjugated polymer solutions

KAUST Repository

Zhao, Kui

2015-09-07

The mechanistic understanding of the intrinsic molecular self-assembly of conjugated polymers is of immense importance to controlling the microstructure development in organic semiconducting thin films, with meaningful impact on charge transport and optoelectronic properties. Yet, to date the vast majority of studies have focused on the fast solution process itself, with studies of slower intrinsic molecular self-assembly in formulations lagging behind. Here we have investigated molecular self-assembly during spontaneous organization and uncovered how changes in formulation influence the microstructure, morphology and transport properties of conjugated polymer thin films. Our results suggest that the polymer-solvent interaction is the key factor for the molecular self-assembly and changes in macroscopic charge transport, which is in contrast with most solution processes, such as spin-coating and blade coating, where solvent drying kinetics dominates the aggregation and crystallization processes. Energetically favourable interactions between the polymer and its solvent are shown to cause chain expansion, resulting in a large hydrodynamic volume and few chain entanglements in solution. This provides molecular freedom for self-assembly and is shown to greatly enhance the local and long range order of the polymer, intra-chain backbone planarity and crystallite size. These improvements, in turn, are shown to endow the conjugated polymer with high carrier transport, as demonstrated by organic thin film transistors.

A Morphology Study of Nanofiller Networks in Polymer Nanocomposites: Improving Their Electrical Conductivity through Better Doping Strategies

KAUST Repository

Mora, Angel

2018-02-01

Over the past years, research efforts have focused on adding highly conductive nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), into polymers to improve their electrical conductivity or to tailor their piezoresistive behavior. Resultant materials are typically described by the weight or volume fractions of their nanoparticles. The weight/volume fraction alone is a very global quantity, making it a poor evaluator of a doping configuration. Knowing which particles actually participate in improving electrical conductivity can optimize the doping strategy. Additionally, conductive particles are only capable of charge transfer over a very short range, thus most of them do not form part of the conduction path. Thus, understanding how these particles are arranged is necessary to increase their efficiency. First, this work focuses on polymers loaded with CNTs. A computational modeling strategy based on a full morphological analysis of the CNT network is presented to systematically analyze conductive networks and show how particles are arranged. A definition of loading efficiency is provided based on the results obtained from this morphology analysis. This study provides useful guidelines for designing these types of materials based on important features, such as representative volume element, nanotube tortuosity and length, tunneling cutoff distance, and efficiency. Second, a computational approach is followed to study the conductive network formed by hybrid particles in polymer nanocomposites. These hybrid particles are synthesized by growing CNTs on the surfaces of GNPs. The objective of this study is to show that the higher electrical conductivity of these composites is due to the hybrids forming a segregated structure. Polymers loaded with hybrid particles have shown a higher electrical conductivity compared with classical carbon fillers: only CNTs, only GNPs or mixed CNTs and GNPs. This is done to understand and compare the doping

Deformation and concentration fluctuations under stretching in a polymer network with free chains. The ''butterfly'' effect

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ramzi, A.

1994-06-01

Small Angle Neutron Scattering gives access to concentration fluctuations of mobile labeled polymer chains embedded in a polymer network. At rest they appear progressively larger than for random mixing, with increasing ratio. Under uniaxial stretching, they decrease towards ideal mixing along the direction perpendicular to stretching, and can grow strongly along the parallel one, including the zero scattering vector q limit. This gives rise to intensity contours with double-winged patterns, in the shape of the figure '8', or of 'butterfly'. Random crosslinking and end-linking of monodisperse chains have both been studied. The strength of the 'butterfly' effect increases with the molecular weight of the free chains, the crosslinking ratio, the network heterogeneity, and the elongation ratio. Eventually, the signal collapses on an 'asymptotic' function I(q), of increasing correlation length with the elongation ratio. Deformation appears heterogeneous, maximal for soft areas, where the mobile chains localize preferentially. This could be due to spontaneous fluctuations, or linked to frozen fluctuations of the crosslink density. However, disagreement with the corresponding theoretical expressions makes it necessary to account for the spatial correlations of crosslink density, and their progressive unscreening as displayed by the asymptotic behavior. Networks containing pending labeled chains and free labeled stars lead to more precise understanding of the diffusion of free species and the heterogeneity of the deformation. It seems that the latter occurs even without diffusion for heterogeneous enough networks. In extreme cases (of the crosslinking parameters), the spatial correlations display on apparent fractal behavior, of dimensions 2 to 2.5, which is discussed here in terms of random clusters. 200 refs., 95 figs., 21 tabs., 10 appends

Wear of polymers and composites

CERN Document Server

Abdelbary, Ahmed

2015-01-01

In the field of tribology, the wear behaviour of polymers and composite materials is considered a highly non-linear phenomenon. Wear of Polymers and Composites introduces fundamentals of polymers and composites tribology. The book suggests a new approach to explore the effect of applied load and surface defects on the fatigue wear behaviour of polymers, using a new tribometer and thorough experiments. It discusses effects of surface cracks, under different static and cyclic loading parameters on wear, and presents an intelligent algorithm, in the form of a neural network, to map the relations

Shape-memory properties of magnetically active triple-shape nanocomposites based on a grafted polymer network with two crystallizable switching segments

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

A. Lendlein

2012-01-01

Full Text Available Thermo-sensitive shape-memory polymers (SMP, which are capable of memorizing two or more different shapes, have generated significant research and technological interest. A triple-shape effect (TSE of SMP can be activated e.g. by increasing the environmental temperature (Tenv, whereby two switching temperatures (Tsw have to be exceeded to enable the subsequent shape changes from shape (A to shape (B and finally the original shape (C. In this work, we explored the thermally and magnetically initiated shape-memory properties of triple-shape nanocomposites with various compositions and particle contents using different shape-memory creation procedures (SMCP. The nanocomposites were prepared by the incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles into a multiphase polymer network matrix with grafted polymer network architecture containing crystallizable poly(ethylene glycol (PEG side chains and poly(ε-caprolactone (PCL crosslinks named CLEGC. Excellent triple-shape properties were achieved for nanocomposites with high PEG weight fraction when two-step programming procedures were applied. In contrast, single-step programming resulted in dual-shape properties for all investigated materials as here the temporary shape (A was predominantly fixed by PCL crystallites.

Unique Chiral Interpenetrating d-f Heterometallic MOFs as Luminescent Sensors.

Science.gov (United States)

Wu, Zhi-Lei; Dong, Jie; Ni, Wei-Yan; Zhang, Bo-Wen; Cui, Jian-Zhong; Zhao, Bin

2015-06-01

One novel three-dimensional (3D) 3d-4f metal-organic framework (MOF), [TbZn(L)(CO3)2(H2O)]n (1) [HL = 4'-(4-carboxyphenyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine], has been successfully synthesized and structurally characterized. Structural analysis shows that compound 1 features a unique chiral interpenetrating 3D framework for the first time. The resulting crystals of 1 are composed of enantiomers 1a (P41) and 1b (P43), as was clearly confirmed by the crystal structure and the corresponding circular dichroism (CD) analyses of eight randomly selected crystals. The investigations on CD spectra based on every single crystal clearly assigned the Cotton effect signals. The powder X-ray diffraction measurement of 1 after being immersed in common solvents reveals that 1 possess excellent solvent stability. Furthermore, luminescent studies imply that 1 displays highly selective luminescent sensing of aldehydes, such as formol, acetaldehyde, and propanal.

Building managed primary care practice networks to deliver better clinical care: a qualitative semi-structured interview study.

Science.gov (United States)

Pawa, Jasmine; Robson, John; Hull, Sally

2017-11-01

Primary care practices are increasingly working in larger groups. In 2009, all 36 primary care practices in the London borough of Tower Hamlets were grouped geographically into eight managed practice networks to improve the quality of care they delivered. Quantitative evaluation has shown improved clinical outcomes. To provide insight into the process of network implementation, including the aims, facilitating factors, and barriers, from both the clinical and managerial perspectives. A qualitative study of network implementation in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, which serves a socially disadvantaged and ethnically diverse population. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were carried out with doctors, nurses, and managers, and were informed by existing literature on integrated care and GP networks. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis used to analyse emerging themes. Interviewees agreed that networks improved clinical care and reduced variation in practice performance. Network implementation was facilitated by the balance struck between 'a given structure' and network autonomy to adopt local solutions. Improved use of data, including patient recall and peer performance indicators, were viewed as critical key factors. Targeted investment provided the necessary resources to achieve this. Barriers to implementing networks included differences in practice culture, a reluctance to share data, and increased workload. Commissioners and providers were positive about the implementation of GP networks as a way to improve the quality of clinical care in Tower Hamlets. The issues that arose may be of relevance to other areas implementing similar quality improvement programmes at scale. © British Journal of General Practice 2017.

Implicit implementation and consistent tangent modulus of a viscoplastic model for polymers

OpenAIRE

ACHOUR-RENAULT, Nadia; CHATZIGEORGIOU, George; MERAGHNI, Fodil; CHEMISKY, Yves; FITOUSSI, Joseph

2015-01-01

In this work, the phenomenological viscoplastic DSGZ model[Duan, Y., Saigal, A., Greif, R., Zimmerman, M. A., 2001. A Uniform Phenomenological Constitutive Model for Glassy and Semicrystalline Polymers. Polymer Engineering and Science 41 (8), 1322-1328], developed for glassy or semi-crystalline polymers, is numerically implemented in a three dimensional framework, following an implicit formulation. The computational methodology is based on the radial return mapping algorithm. This implicit fo...

Synthesis, crystal structures, and luminescent properties of Cd(II) coordination polymers assembled from semi-rigid multi-dentate N-containing ligand

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yuan, Gang; Shao, Kui-Zhan; Chen, Lei; Liu, Xin-Xin [Institute of Functional Material Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, Jilin (China); Su, Zhong-Min, E-mail: zmsu@nenu.edu.cn [Institute of Functional Material Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, Jilin (China); Ma, Jian-Fang [Institute of Functional Material Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, Jilin (China)

2012-12-15

Three new polymers, [Cd(L){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]{sub n} (1), [Cd{sub 3}(L){sub 2}({mu}{sub 3}-OH){sub 2}({mu}{sub 2}-Cl){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]{sub n} (2), {l_brace}[Cd{sub 2}(L){sub 2}(nic){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]{center_dot}H{sub 2}O{r_brace}{sub n} (3) (HL=5-(4-((1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl)phenyl)-1H-tetrazole, Hnic=nicotinic acid) have been prepared and structurally characterized. Compounds 1 and 2 display 2D monomolecular layers built by the inter-linking single helical chains and L{sup -} ligands connecting chain-like [Cd({mu}{sub 3}-OH)({mu}{sub 2}-Cl)]{sub n} secondary building units, respectively. Compound 3 is constructed from the mixed ligands and possesses a (3,4)-connected framework with (4{center_dot}8{sup 2})(4{center_dot}8{sup 2}{center_dot}10{sup 3}) topology. Moreover, the fluorescent properties of HL ligand and compounds 1-3 are also been investigated. - Graphical abstract: Three new coordination polymers based on the semi-rigid multidentate N-donor ligand have been successfully synthesized by hydrothermal reaction. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit the 2D layers formed by inter-linking single helices and L{sup -} anions bridging 1D chain-like SBUs, respectively. Complex 3 is buit by L{sup -} and assistant nic{sup -} ligands connecting metal centers and possesses a (3,4)-connected framework with (4 Multiplication-Sign 8{sup 2})(4 Multiplication-Sign 8{sup 2} Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 3}) topology. Moreover, these complexes display fluorescent properties indicating that they may have potential applications as optical materials. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Three Cd-compounds were prepared from semi-rigid HL ligand with different N-containing groups. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer They exhibit diverse structures from 2D monomolecular layer to 3D covalent framework. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The HL ligands displayed various coordination modes under different reaction conditions. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer These compounds exhibit

Elaboration of submicron structures on PEEK polymer by femtosecond laser

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hammouti, S.; Beaugiraud, B.; Salvia, M.; Mauclair, C.; Pascale-Hamri, A.; Benayoun, S.; Valette, S.

2015-01-01

Highlights: • We compare PEEK polymer under two crystalline forms: semi-crystalline and amorphous. • We assess topographical modifications of surface morphologies after femtosecond laser irradiation. • At low laser energy regime, there is an influence of the crystallinity rate on topographical features of surface morphologies. • At high laser energy regime, the contribution of the crystallinity tends to disappear. - Abstract: In this work, laser parameters initiating the emergence of periodic structures, so-called ripples on poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) surfaces, are investigated. PEEK was used in its semi-crystalline and amorphous forms. Polymer surfaces were treated locally by performing a matrix of laser impacts to highlight the influence of the crystallinity in ultrashort laser interaction. Different surface morphologies or ripples were analyzed by atomic force microscopy and optical interferometry. A map of the presence of these different morphologies according to the laser fluence and the number of pulses was established. Analysis by optical interferometry was carried out and led to the calculations of ablation efficiency. Some significant differences were demonstrated between amorphous and semi-crystalline surfaces. This work revealed topographical information on the local behavior of the irradiated material. Finally, the crystallinity rate of polymer surface seems to be a determinant factor for the periodic nanostructured appearance

Elaboration of submicron structures on PEEK polymer by femtosecond laser

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hammouti, S., E-mail: sabrina.hammouti@ec-lyon.fr [LTDS, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully (France); Beaugiraud, B.; Salvia, M. [LTDS, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully (France); Mauclair, C. [LaHC, Université Jean Monnet, 18 rue du Professeur Benoît Lauras, 42000 Saint-Etienne (France); MANUTECH-USD, 20 rue du Professeur Benoît Lauras, 42000 Saint-Etienne (France); Pascale-Hamri, A. [MANUTECH-USD, 20 rue du Professeur Benoît Lauras, 42000 Saint-Etienne (France); Benayoun, S. [LTDS, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully (France); Valette, S. [LTDS, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully (France); MANUTECH-USD, 20 rue du Professeur Benoît Lauras, 42000 Saint-Etienne (France)

2015-02-01

Highlights: • We compare PEEK polymer under two crystalline forms: semi-crystalline and amorphous. • We assess topographical modifications of surface morphologies after femtosecond laser irradiation. • At low laser energy regime, there is an influence of the crystallinity rate on topographical features of surface morphologies. • At high laser energy regime, the contribution of the crystallinity tends to disappear. - Abstract: In this work, laser parameters initiating the emergence of periodic structures, so-called ripples on poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) surfaces, are investigated. PEEK was used in its semi-crystalline and amorphous forms. Polymer surfaces were treated locally by performing a matrix of laser impacts to highlight the influence of the crystallinity in ultrashort laser interaction. Different surface morphologies or ripples were analyzed by atomic force microscopy and optical interferometry. A map of the presence of these different morphologies according to the laser fluence and the number of pulses was established. Analysis by optical interferometry was carried out and led to the calculations of ablation efficiency. Some significant differences were demonstrated between amorphous and semi-crystalline surfaces. This work revealed topographical information on the local behavior of the irradiated material. Finally, the crystallinity rate of polymer surface seems to be a determinant factor for the periodic nanostructured appearance.

Interpenetration and deflection phenomena in collisions between supersonic, magnetized, tungsten plasma flows diagnosed using high resolution optical Thomson scattering

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Swadling, G. F.; Lebedev, S. V.; Burdiak, G.; Suttle, L.; Patankar, S.; Smith, R. A.; Bennett, M.; Hall, G. N.; Suzuki-Vidal, F.; Bland, S. [Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW (United Kingdom); Harvey-Thompson, A. J. [Sandia National Laboratories, PO Box 5800, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1193 (United States); Rozmus, W. [Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J1 (Canada); Yuan, J. [Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power, Institute of Fluid Physics, CAE, Mianyang 621900 (China)

2015-07-15

An optical Thomson scattering diagnostic has been used to investigate collisions between supersonic, magnetized plasma flows, in particular the transition from collisionless to collisional interaction dynamics. These flows were produced using tungsten wire array z-pinches, driven by the 1.4 MA 240 ns Magpie generator at Imperial College London. Measurements of the collective-mode Thomson scattering ion-feature clearly indicate that the ablation flows are interpenetrating at 100 ns (after current start), and this interpenetration continues until at least 140 ns. The Thomson spectrum at 150 ns shows a clear change in the dynamics of the stream interactions, transitioning towards a collisional, shock-like interaction of the streams near the axis. The Thomson scattering data also provide indirect evidence of the presence of a significant toroidal magnetic field embedded in the “precursor” plasma near the axis of the array over the period 100–140 ns; these observations are in agreement with previous measurements [Swadling et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 035003 (2014)]. The Thomson scattering measurements at 150 ns suggest that this magnetic field must collapse at around the time the dense precursor column begins to form.

Polymer-Sorted Semiconducting Carbon Nanotube Networks for High-Performance Ambipolar Field-Effect Transistors

Science.gov (United States)

2014-01-01

Efficient selection of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) from as-grown nanotube samples is crucial for their application as printable and flexible semiconductors in field-effect transistors (FETs). In this study, we use atactic poly(9-dodecyl-9-methyl-fluorene) (a-PF-1-12), a polyfluorene derivative with asymmetric side-chains, for the selective dispersion of semiconducting SWNTs with large diameters (>1 nm) from plasma torch-grown SWNTs. Lowering the molecular weight of the dispersing polymer leads to a significant improvement of selectivity. Combining dense semiconducting SWNT networks deposited from an enriched SWNT dispersion with a polymer/metal-oxide hybrid dielectric enables transistors with balanced ambipolar, contact resistance-corrected mobilities of up to 50 cm2·V–1·s–1, low ohmic contact resistance, steep subthreshold swings (0.12–0.14 V/dec) and high on/off ratios (106) even for short channel lengths (<10 μm). These FETs operate at low voltages (<3 V) and show almost no current hysteresis. The resulting ambipolar complementary-like inverters exhibit gains up to 61. PMID:25493421

Electroactive Tissue Scaffolds with Aligned Pores as Instructive Platforms for Biomimetic Tissue Engineering.

Science.gov (United States)

Hardy, John G; Cornelison, R Chase; Sukhavasi, Rushi C; Saballos, Richard J; Vu, Philip; Kaplan, David L; Schmidt, Christine E

2015-01-14

Tissues in the body are hierarchically structured composite materials with tissue-specific chemical and topographical properties. Here we report the preparation of tissue scaffolds with macroscopic pores generated via the dissolution of a sacrificial supramolecular polymer-based crystal template (urea) from a biodegradable polymer-based scaffold (polycaprolactone, PCL). Furthermore, we report a method of aligning the supramolecular polymer-based crystals within the PCL, and that the dissolution of the sacrificial urea yields scaffolds with macroscopic pores that are aligned over long, clinically-relevant distances ( i.e ., centimeter scale). The pores act as topographical cues to which rat Schwann cells respond by aligning with the long axis of the pores. Generation of an interpenetrating network of polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) in the scaffolds yields electroactive tissue scaffolds that allow the electrical stimulation of Schwann cells cultured on the scaffolds which increases the production of nerve growth factor (NGF).

Four Novel Zn (II Coordination Polymers Based on 4′-Ferrocenyl-3,2′:6′,3′′-Terpyridine: Engineering a Switch from 1D Helical Polymer Chain to 2D Network by Coordination Anion Modulation

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Lufei Xiao

2017-11-01

Full Text Available Four novel ZnII coordination polymers, [(ZnCl22(L2]n (1, [(ZnBr22(L2]n (2, and [(ZnI22(L2]n (3 and {[Zn(SCN2]1.5(L3}n (4, have been synthesized based on 4′-ferrocenyl-3,2′:6′,3′′-terpyridine with ZnII ions and different coordination anions under similar ambient conditions. Their structures have been confirmed using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, showing that complexes 1–3 are one-dimensional (1D double-stranded metal ion helical polymer chains and complex 4 is of a two-dimensional (2D network. The structural transformations of them from a 1D polymer chain to a 2D network under the influence of the coordination anions has been systematic investigated. Furthermore, the optical band gaps have been measured by optical diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, revealing that the ligand and the complexes should have semiconductor properties.

Mathematical and numerical analysis of a multi-velocity multi-fluid model for interpenetration of miscible fluids; Analyse mathematique et numerique d'un modele multifluide multivitesse pour l'interpenetration de fluides miscibles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Enaux, C

2007-11-15

The simulation of indirect laser implosion requires an accurate knowledge of the inter-penetration of the laser target materials turned into plasma. This work is devoted to the study of a multi-velocity multi-fluid model recently proposed by Scannapieco and Cheng (SC) to describe the inter-penetration of miscible fluids. In this document, we begin with presenting the SC model in the context of miscible fluids flow modelling. Afterwards, the mathematical analysis of the model is carried out (study of the hyperbolicity, existence of a strictly convex mathematical entropy, asymptotic analysis and diffusion limit). As a conclusion the problem is well set. Then, we focus on the problem of numerical resolution of systems of conservation laws with a relaxation source term, because SC model belongs to this class. The main difficulty of this task is to capture on a coarse grid the asymptotic behaviour of the system when the source term is stiff. The main contribution of this work lies in the proposition of a new technique, allowing us to construct a Lagrangian numerical flux taking into account the presence of the source term. This technique is applied first on the model-problem of a one-dimensional Euler system with friction, and then on the multi-fluid SC model. In both cases, we prove that the new scheme is asymptotic-preserving and entropic under a CFL-like condition. The two-dimensional extension of the scheme is done by using a standard alternate directions method. Some numerical results highlight the contribution of the new flux, compared with a standard Lagrange plus Remap scheme where the source term is processed using an operator splitting. (author)

Nano-Scale Interpenetrating Phase Composites (IPC S) for Industrial and Vehicle Applications

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hemrick, James Gordon [ORNL; Hu, Michael Z. [ORNL

2010-06-01

A one-year project was completed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to explore the technical and economic feasibility of producing nano-scale Interpenetrating Phase Composite (IPC) components of a usable size for actual testing/implementation in a real applications such as high wear/corrosion resistant refractory shapes for industrial applications, lightweight vehicle braking system components, or lower cost/higher performance military body and vehicle armor. Nano-scale IPC s with improved mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties have previously been demonstrated at the lab scale, but have been limited in size. The work performed under this project was focused on investigating the ability to take the current traditional lab scale processes to a manufacturing scale through scaling of these processes or through the utilization of an alternative high-temperature process.

CFA-7: an interpenetrated metal-organic framework of the MFU-4 family.

Science.gov (United States)

Schmieder, Phillip; Grzywa, Maciej; Denysenko, Dmytro; Hambach, Manuel; Volkmer, Dirk

2015-08-07

The novel interpenetrated metal-organic framework CFA-7 (Coordination Framework Augsburg University-7), [Zn5Cl4(tqpt)3], has been synthesized containing the organic linker {H2-tqpt = 6,6,14,14-tetramethyl-6,14-dihydroquinoxalino[2,3-b]phenazinebistriazole}. Reaction of H2-tqpt and anhydrous ZnCl2 in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) yields CFA-7 as pseudo-cubic crystals. CFA-7 serves as precursor for the synthesis of isostructural frameworks with redox-active metal centers, which is demonstrated by postsynthetic metal exchange of Zn(2+) by different M(2+) (M = Co, Ni, Cu) ions. The novel framework is robust upon solvent removal and has been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, TGA and IR spectroscopy, as well as gas sorption (Ar, CO2 and H2).

Five new Zn(II) and Cd(II) coordination polymers constructed by 3,5-bis-oxyacetate-benzoic acid: Syntheses, crystal structures, network topologies and luminescent properties

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jiang Xianrong; Yuan Hongyan [Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Reactive Chemistry on Solid Surfaces, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004 (China); Feng Yunlong, E-mail: sky37@zjnu.edu.cn [Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Reactive Chemistry on Solid Surfaces, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004 (China)

2012-07-15

Five Zn(II) and Cd(II) coordination polymers, [Zn{sub 2}(BOABA)(bpp)(OH)]{center_dot}0.5H{sub 2}O (1), [Cd{sub 3}(BOABA){sub 2}(bpp){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 6}]{center_dot}2H{sub 2}O (2), [Cd{sub 3}(BOABA){sub 2}(2,2 Prime -bipy){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}]{center_dot}5.5H{sub 2}O (3), [CdNa(BOABA)(H{sub 2}O)]{sub 2}{center_dot}H{sub 2}O (4) and [Cd{sub 2}(BOABA)(bimb)Cl(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}]{center_dot}H{sub 2}O (5) (H{sub 3}BOABA=3,5-bis-oxyacetate-benzoic acid, bpp=1,3-bi(4-pyridyl)propane, 2,2 Prime -bipy=2,2 Prime -bipyridine, bimb=1,4-bis(imidazol-1 Prime -yl)butane), have been solvothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR spectra and TG analyses. 1 is an uninodal 4-connected 2D square grid network based on binuclear zinc clusters. 2 is 2D wavelike layer structure and further linked by hydrogen bonds into the final 3D (5,6,6)-connected topology network. 3 is 3-connected 2D topology network and the 2,2 Prime -bipy ligands decorate in two different types. 4 is a (4,8)-connected 2D topology network with heterocaryotic {l_brace}Cd{sub 2}Na{sub 2}{r_brace} clusters and BOABA{sup 3-} ligands. 5 can be rationalized as a (3,10)-connected 3D topology network with tetranuclear {l_brace}Cd{sub 4}Cl{sub 2}{r_brace} clusters and BOABA{sup 3-} ligands. Meanwhile, photoluminescence studies revealed that these five coordination polymers display strong fluorescent emission bands in the solid state at room temperature. - Graphical abstract: Five new d{sup 10} metal(II) coordination polymers based on H{sub 3}BOABA ligand were obtained and characterized. They display different topological structures and luminescent properties. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Five d{sup 10} metal(II) polymers based on 3,5-bis-oxyacetate-benzoic acid were obtained. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The polymers were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Polymers 1-5 display different

Responsive gelation of hydrophobized linear polymer

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Madsen, Claus Greve; Toeth, Joachim; Jørgensen, Lene

In this study we present the rheological properties of a physically linked polymer network, composed of linear hydrophilic chains, modified with hydrophobic moieties in each end. Solutions of the polymer in ethanol-water mixtures showed Newtonian behaviour up to about 99 % ethanol, with the highest...

Combination of computational methods, adsorption isotherms and selectivity tests for the conception of a mixed non-covalent-semi-covalent molecularly imprinted polymer of vanillin.

Science.gov (United States)

Puzio, Kinga; Delépée, Raphaël; Vidal, Richard; Agrofoglio, Luigi A

2013-08-06

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for vanillin was prepared by photo initiated polymerization in dichloromethane using a mixed semi-covalent and non-covalent imprinting strategy. Taking polymerisable syringaldehyde as "dummy" template, acrylamide was chosen as functional monomer on B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) density functional theory computational method basis with counterpoise. The binding parameters for the recognition of vanillin on imprinted polymers were studied with three different isotherm models (Langmuir, bi-Langmuir and Langmuir-Freundlich) and compared. The results indicate an heterogeneity of binding sites. It was found and proved by DFT calculations that the specific binding of vanillin in the cavities is due to non-covalent interactions of the template with the hydroxyphenyl- and the amide-moieties. The binding geometry of vanillin in the MIP cavity was also modelled. The obtained MIP is highly specific for vanillin (with an imprinting factor of 7.4) and was successfully applied to the extraction of vanillin from vanilla pods, red wine spike with vanillin, natural and artificial vanilla sugar with a recovery of 80%. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relation between the development of structure and the properties of network polymers

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Williams, D.R.G.; Allen, P.E.M.; Simon, G.P.

1989-01-01

It was shown by various techniques that the development of structure in the early stages of cure determines the final structure and properties of glassy three-dimensional networks. Solid state [ 13 C]-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques identified the structure groupings and the extent of heterogeneity soon after the commencement of polymerization through to the glassy state. Observations of the changes in mobility of groups during cure were correlated with the development of bulk properties such as the glass transition and compressive strength. Computer simulation of the kinetics of the polymerization based on a three-dimensional lattice closely followed the trends observed by experiment and provided insight into the formation of clusters of reacted polymer surrounded by pools of unreacted monomer. The difficulty in obtaining full cure was clearly associated with the presence of trapped reactive centres within the cluster. Observation of the behaviour of small probe or tracer molecules by NMR was shown to be a potent technique for investigating the organization of networks. 28 refs., 12 figs

Advanced Polymer Network Structures

Science.gov (United States)

2016-02-01

attractive interaction (n = 2.0) and a neutral interaction (n = 1.0); n is equal to unity for self-interactions among the monomers of first network and...... Network Structures by Robert Lambeth, Joseph Lenhart, and Tim Sirk Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, ARL Yelena Sliozberg TKC Global

Comparison of Polymer Networks Synthesized by Conventional Free Radical and RAFT Copolymerization Processes in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

OpenAIRE

Patricia Pérez-Salinas; Gabriel Jaramillo-Soto; Alberto Rosas-Aburto; Humberto Vázquez-Torres; María Josefa Bernad-Bernad; Ángel Licea-Claverie; Eduardo Vivaldo-Lima

2017-01-01

There is a debate in the literature on whether or not polymer networks synthesized by reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) processes, such as reversible addition-fragmentation radical transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of vinyl/divinyl monomers, are less heterogeneous than those synthesized by conventional free radical copolymerization (FRP). In this contribution, the syntheses by FRP and RAFT of hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethylene methacrylate (HEMA) and ethylene glycol dimet...

Shape memory and actuation behavior of semicrystalline polymer networks

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bothe, Martin

2014-07-01

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) can change their shape on application of a suitable stimulus. To enable such behavior, a 'programming' procedure fixes a deformation, yielding a stable temporary shape. In thermoresponsive SMPs, subsequent heating triggers entropy-elastic recovery of the initial shape. An additional shape change on cooling, i.e. thermoreversible two-way actuation, can be stimulated by a crystallization phenomenon. In this thesis, cyclic thermomechanical measurements systematically determined (1) the shape memory and (2) the actuation behavior under constant load as well as under stress-free conditions. Chemically cross-linked, star-shaped polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane polyurethane (SPOSS-PU) hybrid polymer networks and physically cross-linked poly(ester urethane) (PEU) block copolymers were investigated around the melting and crystallization temperatures of their polyester soft segments. (1) The SPOSS-PUs showed excellent shape fixities and recoverabilities of almost 100% at high cross-linking density, while PEUs exhibited pronounced shape memory properties at increased soft segment content. Furthermore, two-fold programmed SPOSS-PU specimens were able to recover their initial shape in two thermally separated events. Even a neck, which formed during deformation of SPOSS-PUs with high soft segment content, was reversed. (2) In PEUs, globally oriented crystallization on cooling drove expansion of the sample, in particular at high soft segment content and after application of a strong deformation. Melting reversed that orientation; the PEU sample contracted and thereby completed the thermoreversible actuation cycle. Under load, multiple polymorphic phase transitions enabled two successive expansion and contraction steps, while under stress-free conditions various geometric shape changes, including the increase and decrease of PEU sample length and thickness as well as twisting and untwisting could be experimentally witnessed. Such